Air-surface disinfection system, unit and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A disinfection unit comprising:
- a housing comprising a blower or fan for blowing air;
a transparent tubular member for receiving air blown by said blower or fan and for directing it in a predetermined direction, said transparent tubular member having an inlet end and an outlet end;
a plurality of ultraviolet light sources supported by said housing and arranged in a predetermined pattern around said transparent tubular member such that, when said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are energized, said plurality of ultraviolet light sources projecting ultraviolet radiation outward to facilitate sterilizing an environment outside said housing, said plurality of ultraviolet light sources also projecting ultraviolet radiation through said transparent tubular member to facilitate sterilizing air blown through said transparent tubular member;
wherein said transparent tubular member is not perforated and said blower or fan blowing air in said inlet end through said transparent tubular member and out said outlet end so that substantially all of said air entering said inlet end passes axially through said transparent tubular member and is exposed to said ultraviolet radiation generated by said plurality of ultraviolet light sources substantially simultaneously as said plurality of ultraviolet light sources project ultraviolet radiation outward to facilitate sterilizing said environment outside said housing; and
a controller coupled to said blower or fan and said plurality of ultraviolet light sources for controlling operation of the disinfection unit.
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Abstract
A system, unit, device and method are shown for providing substantially simultaneous disinfection of bacteria or other pathogens in air passing through the system using C-band ultraviolet radiation from an ultraviolet light source and that is also capable of substantially simultaneous and efficient disinfecting air and surfaces outside the device using the same ultraviolet light source.
79 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A disinfection unit comprising:
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a housing comprising a blower or fan for blowing air; a transparent tubular member for receiving air blown by said blower or fan and for directing it in a predetermined direction, said transparent tubular member having an inlet end and an outlet end; a plurality of ultraviolet light sources supported by said housing and arranged in a predetermined pattern around said transparent tubular member such that, when said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are energized, said plurality of ultraviolet light sources projecting ultraviolet radiation outward to facilitate sterilizing an environment outside said housing, said plurality of ultraviolet light sources also projecting ultraviolet radiation through said transparent tubular member to facilitate sterilizing air blown through said transparent tubular member; wherein said transparent tubular member is not perforated and said blower or fan blowing air in said inlet end through said transparent tubular member and out said outlet end so that substantially all of said air entering said inlet end passes axially through said transparent tubular member and is exposed to said ultraviolet radiation generated by said plurality of ultraviolet light sources substantially simultaneously as said plurality of ultraviolet light sources project ultraviolet radiation outward to facilitate sterilizing said environment outside said housing; and a controller coupled to said blower or fan and said plurality of ultraviolet light sources for controlling operation of the disinfection unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A disinfection unit comprising:
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a housing comprising a blower or fan for blowing air; a transparent tubular member for receiving air blown by said blower or fan and for directing it in a predetermined direction; a plurality of ultraviolet light sources supported by said housing and arranged in a predetermined pattern around said transparent tubular member such that, when said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are energized, said plurality of ultraviolet light sources projecting ultraviolet radiation outward to facilitate sterilizing an environment outside said housing, said plurality of ultraviolet light sources also projecting ultraviolet radiation through said transparent tubular member to facilitate sterilizing air blown through said transparent tubular member; a controller coupled to said blower or fan and said plurality of ultraviolet light sources for controlling operation of the disinfection unit; wherein said disinfection unit comprises at least one baffle or airflow interrupter for interrupting said air flowing through said transparent tubular member to facilitate improving ultraviolet radiation effectiveness; wherein said at least one baffle or airflow interrupter comprises a plurality of quartz tubular members.
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17. An air-surface disinfector comprising:
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a transparent tubular member defining a passageway for receiving air and for directing said air in a predetermined direction, said transparent tubular member having an inlet end and an outlet end; and a plurality of ultraviolet light sources arranged in a predetermined patter such that, when said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are energized, ultraviolet radiation is projected inwardly through said transparent tubular member to facilitate sterilizing air passing through said transparent tubular member and outwardly to facilitate sterilizing an environment or area around said plurality of ultraviolet light sources; wherein said transparent tubular member is not perforated and a blower or fan blows air in said inlet end through said transparent tubular member and out said outlet end so that substantially all of said air entering said inlet end passes axially through said transparent tubular member and is exposed to said ultraviolet radiation generated by said plurality of ultraviolet light sources substantially simultaneously as said plurality of ultraviolet light sources project ultraviolet radiation outward to facilitate sterilizing said environment outside a housing. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An air-surface disinfector comprising:
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a transparent tubular member defining a passageway for receiving air and for directing said air in a predetermined direction; and a plurality of ultraviolet light sources arranged in a predetermined pattern such that, when said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are energized, ultraviolet radiation is projected inwardly through said transparent tubular member to facilitate sterilizing air passing through said transparent tubular member and outwardly to facilitate sterilizing an environment or area around said plurality of ultraviolet light sources; wherein said air-surface disinfector comprises at least one baffle or airflow interrupter for interrupting said air flowing through said transparent tubular member to facilitate improving ultraviolet radiation effectiveness, wherein said at least one baffle or airflow interrupter comprises a plurality of quartz tubular members situate in said transparent tubular member.
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Specification