Ultraviolet discharge lamp apparatuses with one or more reflectors

• US 9,698,003 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2015
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xenex Disinfection Services, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Xenex Disinfection Services, LLC.
• Inventors: Wolford, James Blaine, Garfield, Alexander Nathan, Rathgeber, Martin, Stibich, Mark Andrew, Frydendall, Eric Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): STOFFA, WYATT A
• Application Number:
  US14/661,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20150190540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 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 a discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light, a power circuit configured to operate the discharge lamp, and a reflector system configured to redirect ultraviolet light emitted from the discharge lamp. In some embodiments, the apparatuses include a support structure containing the power circuit and supporting the discharge lamp. In some of such embodiments, the reflector system is configured to redirect ultraviolet light propagating away from the support structure to a region exterior to the apparatus and which is between approximately 2 feet and approximately 4 feet from a floor of a room in which the apparatus is arranged. In other embodiments, the reflector system may be additionally or alternatively configured to redirect ultraviolet light propagating away from the support structure to encircle an exterior surface of the apparatus. In any case, the reflector system may, in some embodiments, include a repositionable reflector.

Claims

1. An apparatus for disinfecting a room, comprising:

a germicidal lamp;

a power circuit configured to operate the germicidal lamp;

a base supporting the germicidal lamp;

a support structure coupled to a lower end of the base;

an actuator coupled to the base for moving the base and the germicidal lamp relative to the support structure;

a controller having program instructions which are executable by a processor for activating the actuator such that the base and the germicidal lamp are repositioned within the apparatus relative to the support structure while the germicidal lamp is emitting light;

a reflector assembly disposed above the germicidal lamp, wherein an underside surface of the reflector assembly comprises a reflector dimensionally configured and slanted relative to a horizontal plane of the apparatus to redirect light emitted from the germicidal lamp downwardly to a region exterior to the apparatus between approximately 2 feet and approximately 4 feet from a floor of a room in which the apparatus is arranged, and wherein the reflector is spaced from the germicidal lamp; and

a housing encasing the germicidal lamp, wherein the housing is affixed directly to the base and directly to the reflector assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector is conical.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a fan.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an additional reflector, wherein the additional reflector is disposed around the base or on the support structure, and wherein the additional reflector is slanted relative to the horizontal plane of the apparatus to direct light emitted from the germicidal lamp upwardly to the region exterior to the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an outer peripheral edge of the reflector is horizontally spaced from a vertical plane comprising a closest exterior sidewall surface of the germicidal lamp by a distance greater than three times a width of the germicidal lamp.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more additional germicidal lamps; and

one or more additional reflector assemblies respectively disposed over the one or more additional germicidal lamps.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a material exhibiting greater than 90% reflectance to at least ultraviolet light.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the germicidal lamp is arranged lengthwise substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the germicidal lamp is arranged lengthwise substantially parallel to a horizontal plane of the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the germicidal lamp is arranged at an angle between 0°

and 90°

relative to a horizontal plane of the apparatus.

11. An apparatus for disinfecting a room, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a single discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light;

a support structure supporting a lower end of the single discharge lamp, wherein an upper end of the single discharge lamp extends above the uppermost surface of the support structure;

a power circuit disposed within the support structure and configured to operate the single discharge lamp;

circuitry connecting the power circuit to electrical contacts at the lower end of the single discharge lamp; and

a reflector assembly disposed over an upper end of the single discharge lamp and coupled to the support structure, wherein an underside surface of the reflector assembly comprises a reflector, and wherein an outer peripheral edge of the reflector is horizontally spaced from a vertical plane comprising a closest exterior sidewall surface of the single discharge lamp by a distance greater than three times a width of the single discharge lamp.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the reflector is centered about a vertical axis intersecting the single discharge lamp.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the reflector is centered about a longitudinal axis of the single discharge lamp.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the reflector is annular.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the single discharge lamp is arranged lengthwise substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the single discharge lamp is a xenon discharge lamp.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the single discharge lamp is u-shaped.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the reflector comprises a material exhibiting greater than 90% reflectance to at least ultraviolet light.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a transparent housing encasing the discharge lamp.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is void of an opaque component in an entire area encircling the discharge lamp, wherein the entire area extends from an elevation below the reflector to an elevation above the support structure and between an outer longitudinal surface of the discharge lamp to an ambient surrounding the apparatus.

21. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the germicidal lamp is arranged at an angle between 0°

and 90°

relative to a horizontal plane of the apparatus.

22. An apparatus for disinfecting a room, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light;

a power circuit configured to operate the discharge lamp;

a support structure containing the power circuit and supporting the discharge lamp, wherein the discharge lamp is arranged to propagate light above an upper surface of the support structure;

a reflector system configured to redirect light emitted from the discharge lamp to a region exterior to the apparatus between approximately 2 feet and approximately 4 feet from a floor of a room in which the apparatus is arranged, wherein the reflector system comprises a reflector above the discharge lamp;

a means for automatically moving the reflector within the apparatus relative to the support structure;

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 of the reflector based on the data, and sending a command in accordance with the determined position to the means for automatically moving the reflector.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the discharge lamp is arranged lengthwise substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the apparatus.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the reflector is centered around a vertical axis intersecting the discharge lamp.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the discharge lamp is arranged lengthwise substantially parallel to a horizontal plane of the apparatus.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the germicidal lamp is arranged at an angle between 0°

and 90°

relative to a horizontal plane of the apparatus.