Ultraviolet Discharge Lamp Apparatuses with One or More Reflectors

• US 20120313014A1
• Filed: 06/08/2011
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xenex Disinfection Services, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Xenex Healthcare Services, LLC
• Inventors: Wolford, James Blaine, Rathgeber, Martin, Stibich, Mark Andrew, Garfield, Alexander Nathan, Frydendall, Eric Martin
• Granted Patent: US 9,165,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/492.1
• 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 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; and

a reflector system 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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharge lamp is arranged to propagate light above an upper surface of the support structure, and wherein the reflector system comprises at least one reflector above the discharge lamp.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one reflector is conical.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to move the discharge lamp while the apparatus is in operation.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharge lamp is vertically arranged relative to an upper surface of the support structure and extends beyond an exterior surface of the support structure, and wherein the reflector system comprises a reflector affixed to a housing surrounding the discharge lamp.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein an upper boundary of the housing comprises an ozone filter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising another reflector system arranged within the support structure and configured to direct light emitted from the discharge lamp in the direction of light propagation away from the support structure.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharge lamp is a pulsed light source.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light, wherein the apparatus is absent of optics for producing a laser from light emitted from the discharge lamp;

a power circuit configured to operate the discharge lamp; and

a repositionable reflector configured to redirect ultraviolet light emitted from the discharge lamp.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a means for securing the repositionable reflector at different positions within the apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a means for moving the repositionable reflector while the apparatus is in operation.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the repositionable reflector is detachable from the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

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

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the repositionable reflector is part of a moveable assembly surrounding the discharge lamp, wherein the moveable assembly further comprises an optical filter opposing the repositionable reflector.

15. 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; and

a reflector system configured to redirect ultraviolet light propagating away from the support structure to a region which encircles an exterior surface of the apparatus, wherein the ultraviolet light redirected to the encircling region during an operation of the apparatus collectively occupies the entirety of the encircling region.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the reflector system comprises at least one reflector having at least one hole.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the discharge lamp extends beyond an exterior surface of the support structure.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the discharge lamp is at least partially nested within the support structure.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the discharge lamp is vertically arranged relative to an upper surface of the support structure.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the discharge lamp is horizontally arranged relative to an upper surface of the support structure.