Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation system

• US 8,038,949 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PHI Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Purgenix, Inc.
• Inventors: Sutton, Richard P., Horne, Joel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Conley; Sean E
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOO, REGINA M
• Application Number:
  US10/932,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20060045817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,602 Days
• Field of Search: 422/121, 422/24, 422/120, 422/5, 422/22, 962/24
• US Class Current: 422/121
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/12 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/16 Connections to a HVAC unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

A modular germicidal light grid system for use inside an air treatment apparatus that has a plenum in which a stream of air is enclosed. The system comprises at least one elongate member and at least one lamp assembly. Each lamp assembly comprises a housing defining at least one socket and is mounted to one elongate member at a predetermined position. The system further comprises at least one linear germicidal light source. Each light source has a longitudinal axis and a distal end constructed and arranged to mount within one socket of the housing. The elongate member is mounted within the plenum and the lamp assembly is mounted to the elongate member such that the longitudinal axis of the light source extends therein the stream of air and is positioned at an acute light angle relative to the direction of flow of the stream of air.

Claims

1. A modular germicidal light grid system for use inside a plenum downstream of a cooling apparatus, the system comprising:

a support assembly comprising;

a plurality of elongate first members; and

a plurality of elongate second members, wherein each of the plurality of elongate second members is mounted and positioned substantially perpendicular to at least one elongate first member to form a germicidal light grid;

a plurality of lamp assemblies, each lamp assembly of the plurality of lamp assemblies constructed and arranged to mount to at least a portion of a respective said elongate second member of the support assembly at a predetermined position, each lamp assembly comprising a respective housing having a transverse axis, each housing defining at least one socket that extends at an acute angle relative to the transverse axis of the housing; and

a plurality of linear germicidal light sources, each light source of the plurality of linear germicidal light sources having a longitudinal axis, a distal end constructed and arranged to mount within the at least one socket of the respective said housing, and an opposed unmounted proximal end,

wherein at least one of the plurality of elongate first and second members is connected to a portion of the plenum, wherein the plurality of elongate first members and the plurality of elongate second members are positioned within a common plane, and wherein plurality of light sources extend such that the longitudinal axis of each light source is positioned at an acute light angle relative to the common plane.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transverse axis of the housing is substantially perpendicular to the common plane.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power supply and at least one ballast device electrically coupled to the power supply and the at least one socket of the housing.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the housing of each lamp assembly defines an internal cavity, and wherein the at least one ballast device is disposed therein the internal cavity.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one ballast device has a wiring assembly that extends from the internal cavity of the housing through a port defined in the housing, wherein the wiring assembly is electrically coupled to the at least one socket.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each elongate second member defines a conduit adapted for disposition of wiring coupling the power supply and the at least one socket of the housing.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the wiring assembly is electrically coupled to wiring disposed therein the elongate second member such that the wiring assembly is electrically coupled to the power supply.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of lamp assemblies is releasably mounted to a respective said elongate second member of the support assembly.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each elongate second member defines a trough, and wherein a portion of each housing is sized and shaped for disposition within a portion of the trough of a respective said elongate second member.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the portion of each housing defines an elongate flange member having a pair of longitudinally extending, opposing male protrusions.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the pair of opposing male protrusions of the flange member is sized and shaped for overlying registration within the portion of the trough of the elongate second member.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the pair of opposing male protrusions of the flange member is constructed and arranged for a friction fit with the portion of the trough.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein each elongate second member has a substantially U shape in cross-section.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein each elongate second member defines a trough that has a pair of opposing, longitudinally extending edges that bend inwardly to form a pair of opposing male protrusions, and wherein a portion of the housing is sized and shaped for disposition within a portion of the trough.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the pair of opposing male protrusions are spaced apart a predetermined distance, further comprising a fastener coupled to the housing of each lamp assembly and a planar member that defines a bore, the planar member having a dimension greater than the predetermined distance and being sized and shaped for positioning within a portion of the trough, whereby the fastener is constructed and arranged to engage the bore of the fastener such that, in use, a portion of the planar member can be placed in contact with a portion of the pair of opposing male protrusions to secure the housing of each lamp assembly in the predetermined position.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of elongate first members is connected to an interior surface of the plenum.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one elongate second member is slidably mounted to at least one respective elongate first member.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the acute angle is between about 10°

to less than about 90°

.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the acute angle is between about 20°

to about 80°

.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the acute angle is between about 30°

to about 70°

.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the acute angle is about 60°

.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the acute angle is about 45°

.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing of each lamp assembly comprises a first body member, an opposed second body member, and an extension conduit connected to and extending between the first and second body members, wherein the extension conduit extends substantially coaxial to the transverse axis of the housing, wherein the at least one socket is defined on the second body member, and wherein a portion of the first body member of the housing is constructed and arranged to mount to the portion of a respective said elongate second member.

24. A modular germicidal light grid system for use inside a plenum containing a cooling apparatus, the system comprising:

a support assembly comprising;

a plurality of elongate first members; and

a plurality of elongate second members, wherein each of the plurality of elongate second members is mounted and positioned substantially perpendicular to at least one elongate first member to form a germicidal light grid;

a plurality of lamp assemblies, each lamp assembly of the plurality of lamp assemblies constructed and arranged to mount to a portion of a respective said elongate second member of the support assembly at a predetermined position, each lamp assembly comprising a respective housing defining at least one socket; and

a plurality of linear germicidal light sources, each light source of the plurality of linear germicidal light sources having a longitudinal axis, a distal end constructed and arranged to mount within the at least one socket of the respective said housing, and an opposed unmounted proximal end,

wherein at least one of the plurality of elongate first and second members is connected to a portion of the plenum, wherein the plurality of elongate first members and the plurality of elongate second members are positioned within a common plane, and wherein each lamp assembly is constructed and arranged to mount to a portion of a respective said elongate second member such that the longitudinal axis of the each linear light source extends at an acute light angle relative to the common plane.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein each housing has a transverse axis, and wherein the at least one socket extends at an acute angle relative to the transverse axis of the housing.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the transverse axis of each housing is substantially perpendicular to the common plane.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the acute angle is between about 10°

to less than about 90°

.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the acute angle is between about 20°

to about 80°

.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the acute angle is between about 30°

to about 70°

.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the acute angle is about 60°

.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the acute angle is about 45°

.

32. The system of claim 24, further comprising a power supply and at least one ballast device electrically coupled to the power supply and the at least one socket of the respective said housing.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the housing of each lamp assembly defines an internal cavity, and wherein the at least one ballast device is disposed therein the internal cavity.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein at least one of the plurality of lamp assemblies is releasably mounted to a respective said elongate second member of the support assembly.

35. The system of claim 24, wherein each elongate second member defines a trough, and wherein a portion of each housing is sized and shaped for disposition within a portion of the trough of a respective said elongate second member.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the portion of each housing defines an elongate flange member having a pair of longitudinally extending, opposing male protrusions.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the pair of opposing male protrusions of the flange member is sized and shaped for overlying registration within the portion of the trough of each elongate second member.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the pair of opposing male protrusions of the flange member is constructed and arranged for a friction fit with the portion of the trough.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein each elongate second member has a substantially U shape in cross-section.

40. A modular germicidal light grid system for use inside an air treatment apparatus having a plenum in which a stream of air is entrained therein, the stream of air having a direction of flow, the system comprising:

a plurality of elongate first members;

a plurality of elongate second members, wherein each of the plurality of elongate second members is mounted to a portion of at least one elongate first member to form a germicidal light grid;

a plurality of lamp assemblies, each lamp assembly of the plurality of lamp assemblies comprising a respective housing having a transverse axis, each housing defining at least one socket that extends at an acute angle relative to the transverse axis of the housing, a portion of the housing of each lamp assembly constructed and arranged to mount to a portion of a respective said elongate second member at a predetermined position; and

a plurality of linear germicidal light sources, each light source of the plurality of linear germicidal light sources having a longitudinal axis, a distal end constructed and arranged to mount within the at least one socket of the respective said housing, and an opposed unmounted proximal end,

wherein at least one of the elongate first and second members is mounted within the plenum, wherein each lamp assembly is mounted to a respective said elongate second member such that the longitudinal axis of each light source extends therein the stream of air and is positioned at an acute light angle relative to a plane transverse to the direction of flow of the stream of air.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein each of the plurality of elongate second members is positioned substantially perpendicular to at least one elongate first member.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein each lamp assembly is mounted to a respective said elongate second member.

43. The system of claim 40, further comprising a means for mounting each lamp assembly to the respective said elongate second member.

44. The system of claim 40, further comprising a power supply and at least one ballast device electrically coupled to the power supply and the at least one socket of each housing.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the housing of each lamp assembly defines an internal cavity, and wherein the at least one ballast device is disposed therein the internal cavity.

46. The system of claim 40, wherein at least one of the plurality of lamp assemblies is releasably mounted to a respective said elongate second member.

47. The system of claim 40, wherein the acute angle is between about 10°

to less than about 90°

.

48. The system of claim 40, wherein the acute angle is between about 20°

to about 80°

.

49. The system of claim 40, wherein the acute angle is between about 30°

to about 70°

.

50. The system of claim 40, wherein the acute angle is about 60°

.

51. The system of claim 40, wherein the acute angle is about 45°

.

52. A modular germicidal light grid system for use inside an air treatment apparatus having a plenum in which a stream of air is entrained therein, the stream of air having a direction of flow, the system comprising:

a plurality of elongate first members;

a plurality of elongate second members, wherein each of the plurality of elongate second members is mounted to a portion of at least one elongate first member to form a germicidal light grid;

a plurality of lamp assemblies, each lamp assembly of the plurality of lamp assemblies comprising a respective housing defining at least one socket, the housing of each lamp assembly mountable to a respective said elongate second member at a predetermined position; and

a plurality of linear germicidal light sources, each light source of the plurality of linear germicidal light sources having a longitudinal axis, a distal end constructed and arranged to mount within the at least one socket of the respective said housing, and an opposed unmounted proximal end,

wherein at least one of the elongate first and second members is mounted within the plenum, wherein each lamp assembly is mounted to a respective said elongate second member such that the longitudinal axis of each light source extends therein the stream of air and is positioned at an acute light angle relative to a plane transverse to the direction of flow of the stream of air.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein each housing has a transverse axis, and wherein the at least one socket extends at an acute angle relative to the transverse axis of the housing.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein each of the plurality of elongate second members is positioned substantially perpendicular to at least one elongate first member.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein each lamp assembly is mounted to a respective said elongate second member.

56. The system of claim 52, further comprising a means for mounting each lamp assembly to the respective said elongate second member.

57. The system of claim 56, further comprising a power supply and at least one ballast device electrically coupled to the power supply and the at least one socket of each housing.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the housing of each lamp assembly defines an internal cavity, and wherein the at least one ballast device is disposed therein the internal cavity.

59. The system of claim 52, wherein the acute light angle is between about 10°

to less than about 90°

.

60. The system of claim 52, wherein the acute light angle is between about 20°

to about 80°

.

61. The system of claim 52, wherein the acute light angle is between about 30°

to about 70°

.

62. The system of claim 52, wherein the acute light angle is about 30°

.

63. The system of claim 52, wherein the acute light angle is about 45°

.

64. A modular germicidal light grid system for use inside an air treatment apparatus having a plenum in which a stream of air is entrained therein, the stream of air having a direction of flow, the system comprising:

a plurality of elongate first members;

a plurality of elongate second members, wherein each of the plurality of elongate second members is mounted to a portion of at least one elongate first member to form a germicidal light grid; and

a means for increasing the dwell time that the stream of air is exposed to ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, comprising;

a plurality of lamp assemblies, each lamp assembly of the plurality of lamp assemblies comprising a respective housing having a transverse axis, each housing defining at least one socket that extends at an acute angle relative to the transverse axis of the housing, a portion of the housing of each lamp assembly constructed and arranged to mount to a portion of a respective said elongate second member at a predetermined position; and

a plurality of linear germicidal light sources, each light source of the plurality of linear germicidal light sources having a longitudinal axis, a distal end constructed and arranged to mount within the at least one socket of the respective said housing, and an opposed unmounted proximal end,

wherein at least one of the elongate first or second members is mounted within the plenum, wherein each lamp assembly is mounted to a respective said elongate second member such that the longitudinal axis of each light source extends therein the stream of air and is positioned at an acute light angle relative to a plane transverse to the direction of flow of the stream of air.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein each elongate second member is positioned substantially perpendicular to at least one elongate first member.

66. The system of claim 64, wherein each lamp assembly is mounted to a respective said elongate second member.

67. The system of claim 64, further comprising a means for mounting each lamp assembly to the respective said elongate second member.

68. The system of claim 64, further comprising a power supply and at least one ballast device electrically coupled to the power supply and the at least one socket of each housing.

69. The system of claim 64, wherein the acute angle is between about 10°

to less than about 90°

.

70. The system of claim 64, wherein the acute angle is between about 20°

to about 80°

.

71. The system of claim 64, wherein the acute angle is between about 30°

to about 70°

.

72. The system of claim 64, wherein the acute angle is about 60°

.