Mobile UV sterilization unit for fields and method thereof

• US 8,431,075 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greenzapr Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Greenzapr Incorporated
• Inventors: Davis, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyner, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/590,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20120315186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 422/24, 588/309
• US Class Current: 422/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles

Abstract

A mobile ultraviolet sterilization vehicle. A plurality of UV lamps are removably mounted to a wheeled vehicle. A plurality of tines and a brush are mounted to the vehicle extending across the width thereof and into the supporting surface to position the supporting surface to receive the UV light.

Claims

1. A method of destroying infectious material present on a field having synthetic blades with opposite sides and loose material between the blades comprising the steps of:

moving a wheeled vehicle across a field, said vehicle having a brush with bristles, a downwardly extending wire shaped member, and an ultraviolet light;

contacting blades on the field as said vehicle is moved across the field to move the blades and including the sub-step of brushing with bristles of a brush said blades to position said blades to extend generally vertically to receive ultraviolet light on both sides of the blades destroying infectious material thereon;

downwardly extending said member to contact and penetrate into said loose material turning over loose material between said blades as said vehicle is moved across the field to expose the loose material to ultraviolet light shining down from the vehicle destroying infectious material on said loose material;

shining said ultraviolet light downwardly against the blades and said loose material to destroy infectious material located on the synthetic blades and loose material;

carrying a source of electrical energy on said vehicle; and

,

powering the ultraviolet light with said electrical energy.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of:

shielding said ultraviolet light to provide safety for an operator of said vehicle by minimizing the visibility of said ultraviolet light from aside said vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 and comprising the additional step of:

adjustably moving said downwardly extending member relative to the loose material to control the amount of penetration of said member into said loose material.

4. The method of claim 1 and comprising the additional step of:

removably holding said ultraviolet light on said vehicle to allow replacement thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 and comprising the additional step of:

reflecting said ultraviolet light downwardly against said blades and said loose material.

6. A method of destroying infectious material present on a field having synthetic blades with opposite sides and material between the blades comprising the steps of:

moving a wheeled vehicle across a field, said vehicle having a brush, and an ultraviolet light;

contacting synthetic blades on the field as said vehicle is moved across the field to move the blades by brushing with a brush said blades to position said blades to extend upwardly to receive ultraviolet light destroying infectious material thereon;

shining said ultraviolet light downwardly against the blades and said material between the blades to destroy infectious material located on the blades and material;

carrying a source of electrical energy on said vehicle; and

,

powering the ultraviolet light with said electrical energy.

7. The method of claim 6 and comprising the additional step of:

brushing the blades with said brush to position said blades to receive ultraviolet light on both sides of the blades destroying infectious material thereon.

8. The method of claim 7 and comprising the additional step of:

shining ultraviolet light onto said material between said blades to destroy infectious material on said material between the blades.

9. A method of destroying infectious material present on a field having synthetic blades with opposite sides and loose material between the blades comprising the steps of:

moving a wheeled vehicle across a field, said vehicle having a brush, a downwardly extending wire shaped member, and an ultraviolet light;

contacting blades on the field by said vehicle as said vehicle is moved across the field to move the blades and including the sub-step of brushing with a brush said blades to position said blades to extend generally vertically to receive ultraviolet light on both sides of the blades destroying infectious material thereon;

downwardly extending said wire shaped member to contact and penetrate into loose material moving the loose material between said blades as said vehicle is moved across the field to expose the loose material to ultraviolet light shining down from the vehicle destroying infectious material on the loose material; and

,

shining said ultraviolet light downwardly against the blades and the loose material to destroy infectious material located on the blades and loose material.

10. A method of destroying infectious material present on a field having synthetic blades with opposite sides and material between the blades comprising the steps of:

moving a wheeled vehicle across a field, said vehicle having a brush, a downwardly extending wire shaped member, and an ultraviolet light;

contacting blades on the field by said vehicle as said vehicle is moved across the field to move the blades and including the sub-step of brushing with a brush said blades to position said blades to extend generally vertically to receive ultraviolet light on opposite sides of the blades destroying infectious material thereon;

holding said wire shaped member in spaced relationship from said material between said blades unless the material between the blades is in a loose condition relative to said blades and then contacting said material in a loose condition with said wire shaped member by downwardly extending said wire shaped member to contact and penetrate into said material in a loose condition overturning same as said vehicle is moved across the field to expose the material overturned to ultraviolet light shining down from the vehicle destroying infectious material thereon; and

,

shining said ultraviolet light downwardly against the blades and said material between the blades to destroy infectious material located thereon and on the blades.