Ultraviolet discharge lamp apparatuses with one or more reflectors

• US 9,165,756 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2011
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xenex Disinfection Services, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Xenex Disinfection Services, LLC.
• Inventors: Stibich, Mark Andrew, Wolford, James Blaine, Garfield, Alexander Nathan, Rathgeber, Martin, Frydendall, Eric Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Berman, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOFFA, WYATT A
• Application Number:
  US13/156,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20120313014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 250/455.11, 250/504.R, 250/493.1, 422/24, 422/22, 422/1, 607/94
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 housing encasing the discharge lamp, wherein a lower boundary of the housing comprises a fan for drawing air into the housing, and wherein an upper boundary of the housing comprises an ozone filter;

a power circuit configured to operate the discharge lamp;

a support structure supporting the discharge lamp; and

a reflector assembly disposed above and over an uppermost surface of the discharge 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 discharge 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, wherein the reflector is spaced from the discharge lamp, and wherein the housing is affixed to the support structure and to the reflector assembly.

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

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to move the discharge lamp within the apparatus relative to the support structure, and wherein the apparatus comprises a controller having program instructions which are executable by a processor for moving the discharge lamp while the discharge lamp is emitting ultraviolet light.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an additional reflector, wherein the additional reflector is arranged within 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 discharge lamp upwardly to the region exterior to the apparatus.

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

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conical reflector comprises a material exhibiting greater than 90% reflectance.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharge lamp is arranged lengthwise perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector assembly is detachable from the apparatus apart from the discharge lamp.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light;

a power circuit configured to operate the discharge lamp;

a reflector arranged to redirect ultraviolet light emitted from the discharge lamp, wherein the reflector and the discharge lamp comprise a moveable assembly within the apparatus;

a support structure supporting the moveable assembly;

a controller having program instructions which are executable by a processor for moving the moveable assembly while the discharge lamp is emitting ultraviolet light such that the reflector and discharge lamp are repositioned within the apparatus relative to the support structure;

an additional moveable assembly within the apparatus surrounding the discharge lamp, wherein the additional moveable assembly comprises the reflector and an optical filter opposing the reflector; and

a central processing unit comprising program instructions which are executable by a processor for rotating or oscillating the additional moveable assembly within the apparatus relative to the discharge lamp while the discharge lamp is emitting ultraviolet light.

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