US3576593A - Environmental air sanitizer - Google Patents

Environmental air sanitizer Download PDF

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US3576593A
US3576593A US819905A US3576593DA US3576593A US 3576593 A US3576593 A US 3576593A US 819905 A US819905 A US 819905A US 3576593D A US3576593D A US 3576593DA US 3576593 A US3576593 A US 3576593A
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air
enclosure
path
additive
treating
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US819905A
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Daniel J Cicirello
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DANIEL J CICIRELLO
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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F8/00Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying
    • F24F8/20Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying by sterilisation
    • F24F8/22Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying by sterilisation using UV light
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F8/00Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying
    • F24F8/20Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying by sterilisation
    • F24F8/24Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying by sterilisation using sterilising media
    • F24F8/26Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying by sterilisation using sterilising media using ozone
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S261/00Gas and liquid contact apparatus
    • Y10S261/65Vaporizers
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S261/00Gas and liquid contact apparatus
    • Y10S261/88Aroma dispensers

Definitions

  • An apparatus for selectively treating environmental air as it is circulated over a path including an elongate enclosure in which are disposed facilities effective for withdrawing air from a room through a mechanical filter, dividing the air taken in into two discrete paths, chemically treating the air in one path by adding a vapor phase additive, optically treating the air in the other path first with germicidal ultraviolet radiation followed by ozonizing ultraviolet radiation, turbulently mixing the germicidally irradiated air with the ozonized air, and finally blending the additive treated air with the optically treated air and returning the blended air to the room.
  • Air treating apparatus utilizing ultraviolet radiation and chemical treatment of a moving column of air for destroying viable microorganisms in the air, to which this invention relates, have been the subjects of a large number of prior art disclosures. Despite this situation, there appears to be no suggestion of any structure capable of the multiple selectively available treatments made possible by the invention herein, or any concept of the treatment sequence provided.
  • FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the apparatus, shown with the door removed and partly in section;
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevation, shown with a side wall removed and partly in section;
  • FIG. 3 is a front elevation, showing the manually operable controls
  • FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the blower module, showing particularly the bottom supporting and connecting rails;
  • FIG. 5 is a similar view, showing the air inlet and outlet along with the top of the module.
  • FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram showing the control connections.
  • a group of upwardly directed louvers 13 provide an outlet for air moving upwardly through the enclosure, and an inlet opening 15 provides for the entry of ambient air.
  • An air filter 16 extends over the opening 15 to filter all air entering the housing, being removably mounted on the enclosure by the bolts 17, which also serve to support the metal filter cover plate 18, the latter being disposed in outward spaced parallel relationship with the filter and the front wall of the enclosure.
  • a blower module 12 also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is disposed in the lower portion of the housing 10, with its inlet opening 19 facing and adjacent to the air filter 16, and its outlet opening 20 directed upwardly through a portion of the top of the module and into the enclosure.
  • An electric motor 21 is mounted on the vertical wall of the module opposite the inlet opening 15 of the enclosure, and drives the fan 22 to move air from the outside through the filter and thence longitudinally upward through the enclosure, as indicated by the directional arrows in the drawing.
  • its bottom portion 23 is formed of an insulating material; e.g. fiber glass, and the leads 50 to the motor are connected to the transversely spaced conducting rails 24 and 25, the latter normally resting on and being thereby electrically connected respectively to the insulated stationary conducting supporting rails 26 and 27 of the enclosure.
  • the latter are in turn provided with connections to the attachment cord 28, to enable energizing the apparatus.
  • one conductor of the attachment cord operates at ground potential, along with the engaged rails 24 and 26, and the metal Walls of the enclosure.
  • the construction just described enables the blower module to be removed from the enclosure by simply opening the door 11 and lifting the module out.
  • Within the enclosure 10 are disposed several facilities for treating the filtered air as it moves upward from the blower module 12: 1) by adding selected vapor phase additives for insecticidal, germicidal or deodorant effects; (2) by the addition of ozone produced by absorption of ultraviolet radiant energy of a wavelength at the mercury line of 1849 angstroms; and (3) by the germicidal ultra-violet radiation of the wavelength at the mercury line of 2537 angstroms.
  • Controls for these facilities are mounted on the front panel 43 of the enclosure, enabling the individual use and rate of application of any one facility, or the concurrent use of any desired combination of treatments, at individually variable rates of application.
  • FIG. 6 is the control wiring diagram.
  • the additive 31 to be vaporized for addition to the auxiliary air column is placed in the sealed container 32, the latter being conveniently formed of a transparent plastic material and resting on the shelf 40.
  • a tubular additive inlet air duct 33 extends upwardly through the top of the container from an elevation above the surface of the additive, and thence laterally and downwardly to an elevation near and in the path of movement of air from the blower out let opening 20.
  • tubular additive outlet air duct extends upwardly through the top of the container 32 from an elevation above the surface of the additive, its upper end terminal portion 35 resting on the upper surface of the shelf 37 and having in the terminal portion a plurality of upwardly directed perforations 36.
  • a throttle valve indicated symbolically at the numeral 38, enables adjustment in the volume of additively treated air discharged from the outlet duct.
  • the tubular ultraviolet germicidal lamp 42 is supported from the inner side of the front wall of the housing, extending outwardly therefrom and coextensively with the main path over which air is directed as it is blown upwardly from the blower module 12.
  • the wavelength of the radiant energy from the germicidal lamp is preferably about 2500 angstroms, to provide maximum germicidal effectiveness and minimum production of ozone from this source.
  • a group of bulb-type ultraviolet ozonizing lamp sources 39 radiating energy at wavelengths somewhat less than about 1800 angstroms, are mounted below the shelf member 37, and in position to ozonize a portion of the oxygen of the sterilized air moving upwardly through the housing.
  • the shelf 37 is spaced inwardly from the rear door 11, and laterally from the sides of the enclosure 10, and after passing the lamps 39, the ozonized air moves along the lower surface of the shelf 37 and thence through the upper plenum chamber 41 to the outwardly and upwardly directed louvers 13.
  • the underside of the shelf 37 is preferably formed from a polished aluminum having a high reflectance, while its upper surface is preferably coated with some low refiectance material.
  • the shelf 37 is disposed: to partition the upper portion of the housing to provide the plenum chamber 41; to prevent escape of ultraviolet radiation through the louvers 13; to preclude deposition of additive material on the lamps; if desired, to provide an electrically grounded metallic surface adjacent to the ozonizing lamps from which photo-electron emission may occur and, finally, to provide a turbulent mixing baflle for admixing the optically treated air en route to the plenum chamber.
  • the normally; open door-actuated switch prevents energlzmg any or the ultraviolet sources unless the door is closed.
  • the ozone producing lamps may be energized by closing the switch 45, this action also energizing the pilot light 46.
  • the germicidal lamp 42 may be energized by closing the switch 47, which also energizes the indicating light 48.
  • the quantity of additive introduced into the circulated air may be controlled either by adjusting the speed of the blower or by adjusting the position of the throttle valve 38 by moving the operating handle 49.
  • Procedures for treating room air with an insecticide, a deodorizing ozone and germicidal radiation may be concurrently carried on.
  • any liquid or solid deodorant or germicidal material which can be evaporated or sublimed by an impinging air current may be injected as an additive into the room air.
  • An advantageous sequence of air treatment from intake to outlet occurs with concurrent operation of the available treatment processes. All of the air to be treated is first filtered to preclude deposition of filterable air borne particulates on the lamps. For effective sterilization, a relatively long path of travel for the main air column is provided. For minimum degradation of the ozone content of the air during its travel to the outlet, a
  • auxiliary air component effectively avoids contamination of the lamps as well as the associated reflective surfaces, and its mixture with the optically treated component at the room outlet assures the retention of the desired qualities of each component as the air moves into the room.
  • a room air treating apparatus comprising an enclosure having an air inlet and an air outlet, blower means effective to impart movement of environmental air along a main path from said inlet to said outlet, and a source of ultraviolet radiation mounted inside the enclosure and disposed to irradiate the air moving along said main path, further comprising an auxiliary means for injecting a vapor phase additive into the irradiated air adjacent to the outlet end of said main path, said auxiliary means comprising an auxiliary tubular air duct coextensive with said main path and having an auxiliary inlet end portion and an auxiliary outlet end portion, means supporting the upstream end of said auxiliary inlet end portion in said main path adjacent to said blower means to thereby receive a portion of the air moved thereby, means supporting the downstream end if said auxiliary outlet end portion adjacent to the outlet end of said main path, an additive container interposed in said auxiliary air duct and a vaporizable additive partially filling said container, the downstream end of said auxiliary inlet end portion and the upstream end of said auxiliary outlet end
  • a room air treating apparatus comprising an upstanding enclosure having an air inlet opening adjacent to its lower end and an air outlet opening adjacent to its upper end, blower means effective to move environmental air within said enclosure and along a path extending from said inlet opening to said outlet opening, a source of germicidal radiation and a source of air-ozonizing ultraviolet radiation mounted inside the enclosure in position to irradiate the air in said path from both sources, said sources being spaced along said path to sequentially irradiate air moving therealong in the order the sources are named, a planar transversely extending shelf member fixedly mounted on the Wall of said enclosure at an elevation between the air outlet opening and the radiation sources, said shelf member being formed of a material opaque to ultraviolet radiation and providing a barrier to the movement of radiant energy through said outlet opening, the area of said shelf member being less than the cross sectional area of the enclosure and constituting the floor of a plenum chamber positioned at the upper end of said enclosure, the underside of said shelf member having a high reflectance of ultraviolet radiant energy and being disposed
  • auxiliary air duct open at its respective ends, is supported within said enclosure and extends in isolated relationship along the main path from its lower end near said blower means to an upper terminal portion which extends into said plenum chamber and transversely along the upper surface of said shelf member, and means responsive to the movement of auxiliary air upwardly through said auxiliary air duct for adding a vapor phase additive to said auxiliary air prior to the discharge of the admixed auxiliary air into said plenum chamber for blending with the concurrently moving ultraviolet irradiated air from the main path.
  • an environmental air sanitizer comprising an upstanding enclosure of rectangular cross section having an air inlet adjacent to its lower end and an air outlet adjacent to its upper end, a source of ultraviolet radiation mounted inside the enclosure and disposed to irradiate air moving along said source from said inlet to said outlet, and blower means including an electric motor and a fan driven thereby for withdrawing air from an associated room and imparting movement of the withdrawn air from said inlet to said outlet, the improvement which comprises housing said motor and fan in a slidably removable rectangular module having an air inlet opening in one vertical side of said module and an air outlet opening in the top of said module, and common means for supporting said module in the lower end portion of said enclosure and connecting said motor to an associated attachment cord, said common means including a pair of insulated, transversely spaced and inwardly directed module rails of conducting material forming parts of and movable with said module, and a pair of insulated and similarly spaced and directed enclosure rails of conducting material forming parts of said enclosure upon which said module rests in registration therewith
  • the method of treating atmospheric air moving along an enclosed main path which has an untreated segment at the upstream end of the path and an ultraviolet irradiated segment downstream therefrom comprising the steps of removing an air fraction from the upstream end of the path, moving the removed air along an auxiliary path isolated from the main path, chemically treating the removed air during its passage along said auxiliary path, and discharging the chemically treated air into the downstream end of the main path.

Abstract

AN APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY TREATING ENVIRONMENTAL AIR AS IT IS CIRCULATED OVER A PATH INCLUDING AN ELONGATE ENCLOSURE IN WHICH ARE DISPOSED FACILITIES EFFECTIVE FOR WITHDRAWING AIR FROM A ROOM THROUGH A MECHANICAL FILTER, DIVIDING THE AIR TAKEN IN INTO TWO DISCRETE PATHS, CHEMICALLY TREATING THE AIR IN ONE PATH BY ADDING A VAPOR PHASE ADDITIVE, OPTICALLY TREATING THE AIR IN THE OTHER PATH FIRST WITH GERMICIDAL ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION FOLLOWED BY OZONIZING ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION, TURBULENTLY MIXING THE GERMI-

CIDALLY IRRADIATED AIR WITH THE OZONIZED AIR, AND FINALLY BLENDING THE ADDITIVE TREATED AIR WITH THE OPTICALLY TREATED AIR AND RETURNING THE BLENDED AIR TO THE ROOM.

Description

April 27, 1971 Filed A ril 28, 1969 D. J. CICIRELLO ENVIRONMENTAL AIR SANITIZER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OFF HI FIG. 3
INVENTOR. Dame\ 3. Cncarello April 27, 1971 D J, ||RELLO I 3,576,593
I ENVIRONMENTAL AIR smmzmz I Filed April 28, 1969 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Danld 3 CICU'QH-O 3,576,593 ENVIRONMENTAL AIR SANITIZER Daniel J. Cicirello, 6406 Tracy St., Little Rock, Ark. 72206 Filed Apr. 28, 1969, Ser. No. 819,905 Int. Cl. A611 9/00, 9/04 U.S. CI. 21-53 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for selectively treating environmental air as it is circulated over a path including an elongate enclosure in which are disposed facilities effective for withdrawing air from a room through a mechanical filter, dividing the air taken in into two discrete paths, chemically treating the air in one path by adding a vapor phase additive, optically treating the air in the other path first with germicidal ultraviolet radiation followed by ozonizing ultraviolet radiation, turbulently mixing the germicidally irradiated air with the ozonized air, and finally blending the additive treated air with the optically treated air and returning the blended air to the room.
PRIOR ART Air treating apparatus utilizing ultraviolet radiation and chemical treatment of a moving column of air for destroying viable microorganisms in the air, to which this invention relates, have been the subjects of a large number of prior art disclosures. Despite this situation, there appears to be no suggestion of any structure capable of the multiple selectively available treatments made possible by the invention herein, or any concept of the treatment sequence provided.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An important but seldom mentioned consideration con cerning any air treatment apparatus which contemplates a chemical or vapor phase additive treatment superimposed upon an ultraviolet radiation treatment is the ability to adjust the intensity of the respective treatments and thereby conform the treatment to the requirements as they may vary from time to time.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus enabling the application at variably adjustable rates of a plurality of treatments to the air in the room with the apparatus; such treatments may include, as desired, simple mechanical filtering, insecticidal, germicidal, ozonizing, ionizing or deodorant, and may comprehend chemical or ultraviolet optical, or any one of several combinations of each.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the apparatus, shown with the door removed and partly in section;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation, shown with a side wall removed and partly in section;
FIG. 3 is a front elevation, showing the manually operable controls;
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the blower module, showing particularly the bottom supporting and connecting rails;
FIG. 5 is a similar view, showing the air inlet and outlet along with the top of the module; and
FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram showing the control connections.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring in more detail to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, an upstanding rectangular enclosure or hous- United States Patent O "ice ing 10, formed from a metal sheet having a substantial reflectance of ultraviolet energy at a wavelength of about 2500 angstroms, e.g. brightened aluminum, is provided with a rear door closure 11, which is swingable between an open and a closed position about its pivotal mounting 14 at the lower end of the housing, and which is effective to prevent escape of ultraviolet energy from the housing when in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 3.
A group of upwardly directed louvers 13 provide an outlet for air moving upwardly through the enclosure, and an inlet opening 15 provides for the entry of ambient air. An air filter 16 extends over the opening 15 to filter all air entering the housing, being removably mounted on the enclosure by the bolts 17, which also serve to support the metal filter cover plate 18, the latter being disposed in outward spaced parallel relationship with the filter and the front wall of the enclosure.
A blower module 12, also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is disposed in the lower portion of the housing 10, with its inlet opening 19 facing and adjacent to the air filter 16, and its outlet opening 20 directed upwardly through a portion of the top of the module and into the enclosure. An electric motor 21 is mounted on the vertical wall of the module opposite the inlet opening 15 of the enclosure, and drives the fan 22 to move air from the outside through the filter and thence longitudinally upward through the enclosure, as indicated by the directional arrows in the drawing.
To facilitate installation and removal of the blower module 12, its bottom portion 23 is formed of an insulating material; e.g. fiber glass, and the leads 50 to the motor are connected to the transversely spaced conducting rails 24 and 25, the latter normally resting on and being thereby electrically connected respectively to the insulated stationary conducting supporting rails 26 and 27 of the enclosure. The latter are in turn provided with connections to the attachment cord 28, to enable energizing the apparatus. In accordance with common practice, one conductor of the attachment cord operates at ground potential, along with the engaged rails 24 and 26, and the metal Walls of the enclosure.
The construction just described enables the blower module to be removed from the enclosure by simply opening the door 11 and lifting the module out.
For best results in connection with certain of the available air treatment processes possible, provision is made to vary the speed of the blower motor 21. This is accomplished by the connection of the motor to one of the several taps of the multi-tap series choke coil 29 by means of the rotary switch 30, as indicated in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 3, the switch 30 is accessible at the lower front panel of the enclosure.
Within the enclosure 10 are disposed several facilities for treating the filtered air as it moves upward from the blower module 12: 1) by adding selected vapor phase additives for insecticidal, germicidal or deodorant effects; (2) by the addition of ozone produced by absorption of ultraviolet radiant energy of a wavelength at the mercury line of 1849 angstroms; and (3) by the germicidal ultra-violet radiation of the wavelength at the mercury line of 2537 angstroms.
Controls for these facilities are mounted on the front panel 43 of the enclosure, enabling the individual use and rate of application of any one facility, or the concurrent use of any desired combination of treatments, at individually variable rates of application. FIG. 6 is the control wiring diagram.
For air treatment by vaporized additives, the additive 31 to be vaporized for addition to the auxiliary air column, and which may be either a solid or a liquid, is placed in the sealed container 32, the latter being conveniently formed of a transparent plastic material and resting on the shelf 40. A tubular additive inlet air duct 33 extends upwardly through the top of the container from an elevation above the surface of the additive, and thence laterally and downwardly to an elevation near and in the path of movement of air from the blower out let opening 20. In somewhat similar fashion, the tubular additive outlet air duct extends upwardly through the top of the container 32 from an elevation above the surface of the additive, its upper end terminal portion 35 resting on the upper surface of the shelf 37 and having in the terminal portion a plurality of upwardly directed perforations 36. A throttle valve, indicated symbolically at the numeral 38, enables adjustment in the volume of additively treated air discharged from the outlet duct.
For the destruction of viable particulates passing through the filter '16 and the blower module 12, the tubular ultraviolet germicidal lamp 42 is supported from the inner side of the front wall of the housing, extending outwardly therefrom and coextensively with the main path over which air is directed as it is blown upwardly from the blower module 12. The wavelength of the radiant energy from the germicidal lamp is preferably about 2500 angstroms, to provide maximum germicidal effectiveness and minimum production of ozone from this source.
For air treatment by the conversion of atmospheric oxygen to ozonized oxygen, a group of bulb-type ultraviolet ozonizing lamp sources 39, radiating energy at wavelengths somewhat less than about 1800 angstroms, are mounted below the shelf member 37, and in position to ozonize a portion of the oxygen of the sterilized air moving upwardly through the housing. The shelf 37 is spaced inwardly from the rear door 11, and laterally from the sides of the enclosure 10, and after passing the lamps 39, the ozonized air moves along the lower surface of the shelf 37 and thence through the upper plenum chamber 41 to the outwardly and upwardly directed louvers 13.
The underside of the shelf 37 is preferably formed from a polished aluminum having a high reflectance, while its upper surface is preferably coated with some low refiectance material. The shelf 37 is disposed: to partition the upper portion of the housing to provide the plenum chamber 41; to prevent escape of ultraviolet radiation through the louvers 13; to preclude deposition of additive material on the lamps; if desired, to provide an electrically grounded metallic surface adjacent to the ozonizing lamps from which photo-electron emission may occur and, finally, to provide a turbulent mixing baflle for admixing the optically treated air en route to the plenum chamber.
To preclude eye damage from radiation, the normally; open door-actuated switch prevents energlzmg any or the ultraviolet sources unless the door is closed. The door being closed, the ozone producing lamps may be energized by closing the switch 45, this action also energizing the pilot light 46. Similarly, the germicidal lamp 42 may be energized by closing the switch 47, which also energizes the indicating light 48. The quantity of additive introduced into the circulated air may be controlled either by adjusting the speed of the blower or by adjusting the position of the throttle valve 38 by moving the operating handle 49.
Procedures for treating room air with an insecticide, a deodorizing ozone and germicidal radiation may be concurrently carried on. Or, if desired, any liquid or solid deodorant or germicidal material which can be evaporated or sublimed by an impinging air current may be injected as an additive into the room air.
An advantageous sequence of air treatment from intake to outlet occurs with concurrent operation of the available treatment processes. All of the air to be treated is first filtered to preclude deposition of filterable air borne particulates on the lamps. For effective sterilization, a relatively long path of travel for the main air column is provided. For minimum degradation of the ozone content of the air during its travel to the outlet, a
relatively short path is provided from the ozonizing lamps and the associated photoelectronically emissive surface of the mixing baffle and shelf 37. The continuous isolation during treatment of the auxiliary air component effectively avoids contamination of the lamps as well as the associated reflective surfaces, and its mixture with the optically treated component at the room outlet assures the retention of the desired qualities of each component as the air moves into the room.
I claim:
1. A room air treating apparatus comprising an enclosure having an air inlet and an air outlet, blower means effective to impart movement of environmental air along a main path from said inlet to said outlet, and a source of ultraviolet radiation mounted inside the enclosure and disposed to irradiate the air moving along said main path, further comprising an auxiliary means for injecting a vapor phase additive into the irradiated air adjacent to the outlet end of said main path, said auxiliary means comprising an auxiliary tubular air duct coextensive with said main path and having an auxiliary inlet end portion and an auxiliary outlet end portion, means supporting the upstream end of said auxiliary inlet end portion in said main path adjacent to said blower means to thereby receive a portion of the air moved thereby, means supporting the downstream end if said auxiliary outlet end portion adjacent to the outlet end of said main path, an additive container interposed in said auxiliary air duct and a vaporizable additive partially filling said container, the downstream end of said auxiliary inlet end portion and the upstream end of said auxiliary outlet end portion being disposed in communication with the unfilled space above the upper surface of said vaporizable additive.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a serially related throttle valve in said auxiliary air duct.
3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a removable cover is fitted on the additive container, and the respective downstream and upstream ends of the auxiliary inlet and outlet end portions are directed downwardly through said cover and terminated at an elevation above the surface of the contained additive.
4. A room air treating apparatus comprising an upstanding enclosure having an air inlet opening adjacent to its lower end and an air outlet opening adjacent to its upper end, blower means effective to move environmental air within said enclosure and along a path extending from said inlet opening to said outlet opening, a source of germicidal radiation and a source of air-ozonizing ultraviolet radiation mounted inside the enclosure in position to irradiate the air in said path from both sources, said sources being spaced along said path to sequentially irradiate air moving therealong in the order the sources are named, a planar transversely extending shelf member fixedly mounted on the Wall of said enclosure at an elevation between the air outlet opening and the radiation sources, said shelf member being formed of a material opaque to ultraviolet radiation and providing a barrier to the movement of radiant energy through said outlet opening, the area of said shelf member being less than the cross sectional area of the enclosure and constituting the floor of a plenum chamber positioned at the upper end of said enclosure, the underside of said shelf member having a high reflectance of ultraviolet radiant energy and being disposed to turbulently intermingle the germicidally radiated air with the ozonized air by impingement on the underside of the shelf as the air is blown therealong en route toward said outlet opening.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an auxiliary air duct, open at its respective ends, is supported within said enclosure and extends in isolated relationship along the main path from its lower end near said blower means to an upper terminal portion which extends into said plenum chamber and transversely along the upper surface of said shelf member, and means responsive to the movement of auxiliary air upwardly through said auxiliary air duct for adding a vapor phase additive to said auxiliary air prior to the discharge of the admixed auxiliary air into said plenum chamber for blending with the concurrently moving ultraviolet irradiated air from the main path.
6. In an environmental air sanitizer comprising an upstanding enclosure of rectangular cross section having an air inlet adjacent to its lower end and an air outlet adjacent to its upper end, a source of ultraviolet radiation mounted inside the enclosure and disposed to irradiate air moving along said source from said inlet to said outlet, and blower means including an electric motor and a fan driven thereby for withdrawing air from an associated room and imparting movement of the withdrawn air from said inlet to said outlet, the improvement which comprises housing said motor and fan in a slidably removable rectangular module having an air inlet opening in one vertical side of said module and an air outlet opening in the top of said module, and common means for supporting said module in the lower end portion of said enclosure and connecting said motor to an associated attachment cord, said common means including a pair of insulated, transversely spaced and inwardly directed module rails of conducting material forming parts of and movable with said module, and a pair of insulated and similarly spaced and directed enclosure rails of conducting material forming parts of said enclosure upon which said module rests in registration therewith, and means connecting said enclosure rails to said attachment cord.
7. The method of treating atmospheric air moving along an enclosed main path which has an untreated segment at the upstream end of the path and an ultraviolet irradiated segment downstream therefrom comprising the steps of removing an air fraction from the upstream end of the path, moving the removed air along an auxiliary path isolated from the main path, chemically treating the removed air during its passage along said auxiliary path, and discharging the chemically treated air into the downstream end of the main path. a
8. The method recited in claim 7, wherein the irradiate air is subjected to ultraviolet radiant energy at the wavelength of 25 37 angstroms.
9. The method recited in claim 7, wherein the irradiated air is first subjected to ultraviolet radiant energy at the wavelength of 2537 angstroms, and subsequently subjected to ultraviolet radiant energy at the wavelength of 1849 angstroms.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,397,068 2/ 1950 Canney 21-74X 2,523,373 9/1950 Jennings et a1. 21-74 2,553,711 5/1951 Jackson 21--102X 2,638,644 5/1953 Rauhut 21--53X 2,754,554 7/1956 Mills 21-120 3,047,718 7/1962 Fleming et a1. 2153X 3,071,828 1/1963 Cornell 2174 3,442,602 5/1969 Diehl 2153 FOREIGN PATENTS 349,031 11/ 1960 Switzerland 21102 MORRIS O. WOLK, Examiner B. S. RICHMAN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.
2154R, 55, 74R, 74A, 10ZR; 279; 250-48
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Cited By (57)

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US3816074A (en) * 1971-02-10 1974-06-11 Detec Sa Apparatus for disinfecting an area with formaldehyde
US3895928A (en) * 1972-09-26 1975-07-22 Comercial Super Dix S A Air treatment device
US3923458A (en) * 1972-09-26 1975-12-02 Comercial Super Dix S A Air treatment device
US3930797A (en) * 1974-07-23 1976-01-06 Gertz Albert E Air treatment device
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US4494357A (en) * 1981-12-31 1985-01-22 International Paper Company Sterilization of packaging material
US4808347A (en) * 1988-03-24 1989-02-28 Dawn Andrew R Fan driven air freshener
US4840770A (en) * 1987-02-24 1989-06-20 Seco Industries, Inc. Odor control product dispenser
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US5141706A (en) * 1989-06-30 1992-08-25 Clark Donald L Air purification unit
US5185015A (en) * 1991-03-18 1993-02-09 Searle Bruce R Filter apparatus
US5250265A (en) * 1988-09-05 1993-10-05 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Automotive solar-operated deodorizer with solar cell cooling and automated operational control
US5297988A (en) * 1990-11-02 1994-03-29 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Fragrance supplying apparatus for vehicle
US5334347A (en) * 1992-07-02 1994-08-02 Hollander Brad C Electric discharge device
US5514345A (en) * 1994-03-11 1996-05-07 Ozact, Inc. Method and apparatus for disinfecting an enclosed space
US5558158A (en) * 1994-05-19 1996-09-24 Elmore; Robert L. Hygienic air handler
US5589132A (en) * 1994-02-03 1996-12-31 Zippel; Gunther Method and device for purifying and moistening air
US5601786A (en) * 1994-06-02 1997-02-11 Monagan; Gerald C. Air purifier
US5616172A (en) * 1996-02-27 1997-04-01 Nature's Quarters, Inc. Air treatment system
US5632806A (en) * 1995-02-17 1997-05-27 Faber S.P.A. Integrated suction hood featuring air depollution
US5837207A (en) * 1997-04-17 1998-11-17 Engineering Dynamics Limited Portable germicidal air filter
US5888277A (en) * 1997-09-09 1999-03-30 Lacidem International Co., Ltd. Automatic disinfecting means for smoky gas in conduit or closed space
US5891399A (en) * 1993-12-22 1999-04-06 Klean As Cleaning arrangement including filters and ultraviolet radiation
US5997619A (en) * 1997-09-04 1999-12-07 Nq Environmental, Inc. Air purification system
DE19836519A1 (en) * 1998-08-12 2000-02-17 Hofmann Kurt Reactor for the removal of odors using UV radiation together with catalysts
EP1033140A2 (en) * 1999-03-03 2000-09-06 Climarotec Gesellschaft für raumklimatische Spezialanlagen mbH Volatalization of liquids into air stream
US6142383A (en) * 1998-04-08 2000-11-07 Hinsilblon Laboratories Method of waterless large scale dispersion of essential oils and apparatus therefor
US6221314B1 (en) 1997-11-04 2001-04-24 Wil Bigelow Air actinism chamber apparatus and method
DE10006575A1 (en) * 2000-02-14 2001-08-16 Gerhard Schroeder Sterilization of a closed chamber comprises feeding a sterilizing fluid into the chamber via a movable sterilizing apartments.
US6372186B1 (en) 1996-12-24 2002-04-16 Steril-Aire Usa, Inc. Germicidal lamp for harsh environments
WO2002048619A1 (en) * 2000-12-15 2002-06-20 Kurt Tillmanns Device for purifying air
US6500387B1 (en) 2000-05-19 2002-12-31 Nukuest, Inc. Air actinism chamber apparatus and method
US20030138347A1 (en) * 2000-12-21 2003-07-24 Szu-Min Lin Attachable container sterilization system
US6613277B1 (en) 1999-06-18 2003-09-02 Gerald C. Monagan Air purifier
US6627000B2 (en) 1997-02-20 2003-09-30 Steril-Aire Usa, Inc. UV irradiation of air handlers and other apparatus
WO2003082352A2 (en) * 2002-03-27 2003-10-09 Weigl Adolf B Air improver and method for air improvement in spaces
US20030217641A1 (en) * 1992-10-09 2003-11-27 Palestro Richard P. Ultraviolet germicidal apparatus and method
US6656424B1 (en) 2000-02-18 2003-12-02 Uvas, Llc Ultraviolet area sterilizer and method of area sterilization using ultraviolet radiation
US20040252134A1 (en) * 2003-06-13 2004-12-16 Ankur Bhatt Designing business content for reporting
US20050000365A1 (en) * 2003-05-08 2005-01-06 Roger Nelsen System for purifying and removing contaminants from gaseous fluids
US20050150386A1 (en) * 2004-01-13 2005-07-14 Cheng Ming H. Air treatment device having various selections
US20050175498A1 (en) * 1997-09-17 2005-08-11 Jerry Nelson Method and apparatus for producing purified or ozone enriched air to remove contaminants from fluids
US20060263272A1 (en) * 2003-06-16 2006-11-23 Dionisio James L Cartridge device containing uvc for air disinfection. "uvbio-clean"
US20060269455A1 (en) * 2004-12-13 2006-11-30 Hinsilblon Ltd. Apparatus for large-scale dispersion of essential oils
US7278272B2 (en) 1997-02-20 2007-10-09 Steril-Aire, Inc. Marine air conditioner decontamination system
US20090191100A1 (en) * 2008-01-29 2009-07-30 Deal Jeffery L Area sterilizer and method of disinfection
US20100196214A1 (en) * 2009-02-05 2010-08-05 Eugene Graff Air purifying luminaire
US20110163178A1 (en) * 2010-01-07 2011-07-07 Hinsilblon Laboratories Odor control unit with essential oils tray
US20110168898A1 (en) * 2010-01-14 2011-07-14 Infection Prevention Technologies Systems and Methods for Emitting Radiant Energy
US8859994B2 (en) 2008-01-29 2014-10-14 Jeffery L. Deal Disinfection device and method
US9694094B1 (en) 2010-01-08 2017-07-04 Tricia N. Wedding Ultraviolet plasma-shells
IT202100018020A1 (en) 2021-07-08 2023-01-08 Ri El Co Impianti S R L Environment sanitizer
US11629872B2 (en) 2021-04-12 2023-04-18 NQ Industries, Inc. Single pass kill air purifier system and process of operation
US11867198B2 (en) * 2021-08-31 2024-01-09 Lg Electronics Inc. Blower

Cited By (74)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3816074A (en) * 1971-02-10 1974-06-11 Detec Sa Apparatus for disinfecting an area with formaldehyde
US3895928A (en) * 1972-09-26 1975-07-22 Comercial Super Dix S A Air treatment device
US3923458A (en) * 1972-09-26 1975-12-02 Comercial Super Dix S A Air treatment device
US3930797A (en) * 1974-07-23 1976-01-06 Gertz Albert E Air treatment device
US4210429A (en) * 1977-04-04 1980-07-01 Alpine Roomaire Systems, Inc. Air purifier
FR2454305A1 (en) * 1979-04-19 1980-11-14 Vaportek Inc ATMOSPHERIC MODIFICATION APPARATUS
US4303617A (en) * 1979-04-19 1981-12-01 Vaportek, Inc. Atmospheric control apparatus
US4494357A (en) * 1981-12-31 1985-01-22 International Paper Company Sterilization of packaging material
US4840770A (en) * 1987-02-24 1989-06-20 Seco Industries, Inc. Odor control product dispenser
DE3905842A1 (en) * 1988-02-29 1989-09-07 Tohkai Kogyo Co STERILIZING / DEODORIZING DEVICE
US5015442A (en) * 1988-02-29 1991-05-14 Tokai Kogyo Co., Ltd. Sterilizing/deodorizing apparatus
US4808347A (en) * 1988-03-24 1989-02-28 Dawn Andrew R Fan driven air freshener
US5250265A (en) * 1988-09-05 1993-10-05 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Automotive solar-operated deodorizer with solar cell cooling and automated operational control
US5141706A (en) * 1989-06-30 1992-08-25 Clark Donald L Air purification unit
US5297988A (en) * 1990-11-02 1994-03-29 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Fragrance supplying apparatus for vehicle
US5185015A (en) * 1991-03-18 1993-02-09 Searle Bruce R Filter apparatus
WO1993000149A1 (en) * 1991-06-26 1993-01-07 Air Innovative Systems, Inc. Environment treatment
US5129928A (en) * 1991-06-26 1992-07-14 Air Innovative Systems, Inc. Environment treatment
US5334347A (en) * 1992-07-02 1994-08-02 Hollander Brad C Electric discharge device
US20030217641A1 (en) * 1992-10-09 2003-11-27 Palestro Richard P. Ultraviolet germicidal apparatus and method
US5891399A (en) * 1993-12-22 1999-04-06 Klean As Cleaning arrangement including filters and ultraviolet radiation
US5589132A (en) * 1994-02-03 1996-12-31 Zippel; Gunther Method and device for purifying and moistening air
US5514345A (en) * 1994-03-11 1996-05-07 Ozact, Inc. Method and apparatus for disinfecting an enclosed space
US6234241B1 (en) * 1994-05-19 2001-05-22 Robert L. Elmore Hygienic air handler
US5558158A (en) * 1994-05-19 1996-09-24 Elmore; Robert L. Hygienic air handler
US5601786A (en) * 1994-06-02 1997-02-11 Monagan; Gerald C. Air purifier
US5632806A (en) * 1995-02-17 1997-05-27 Faber S.P.A. Integrated suction hood featuring air depollution
US5616172A (en) * 1996-02-27 1997-04-01 Nature's Quarters, Inc. Air treatment system
USRE40022E1 (en) * 1996-12-24 2008-01-22 Steril-Aire, Inc. Germicidal lamp for harsh environments
US6372186B1 (en) 1996-12-24 2002-04-16 Steril-Aire Usa, Inc. Germicidal lamp for harsh environments
US7278272B2 (en) 1997-02-20 2007-10-09 Steril-Aire, Inc. Marine air conditioner decontamination system
US6627000B2 (en) 1997-02-20 2003-09-30 Steril-Aire Usa, Inc. UV irradiation of air handlers and other apparatus
US7323065B2 (en) 1997-02-20 2008-01-29 Sieni-Aire, Inc UV irradiation for surface cleaning
US20040055620A1 (en) * 1997-02-20 2004-03-25 Fencl Forrest B. UV irradiation for surface cleaning
US5837207A (en) * 1997-04-17 1998-11-17 Engineering Dynamics Limited Portable germicidal air filter
US5997619A (en) * 1997-09-04 1999-12-07 Nq Environmental, Inc. Air purification system
US5888277A (en) * 1997-09-09 1999-03-30 Lacidem International Co., Ltd. Automatic disinfecting means for smoky gas in conduit or closed space
US20050175498A1 (en) * 1997-09-17 2005-08-11 Jerry Nelson Method and apparatus for producing purified or ozone enriched air to remove contaminants from fluids
US6221314B1 (en) 1997-11-04 2001-04-24 Wil Bigelow Air actinism chamber apparatus and method
US6142383A (en) * 1998-04-08 2000-11-07 Hinsilblon Laboratories Method of waterless large scale dispersion of essential oils and apparatus therefor
DE19836519A1 (en) * 1998-08-12 2000-02-17 Hofmann Kurt Reactor for the removal of odors using UV radiation together with catalysts
EP1033140A3 (en) * 1999-03-03 2001-07-11 Climarotec Gesellschaft für raumklimatische Spezialanlagen mbH Volatalization of liquids into air stream
EP1033140A2 (en) * 1999-03-03 2000-09-06 Climarotec Gesellschaft für raumklimatische Spezialanlagen mbH Volatalization of liquids into air stream
US6613277B1 (en) 1999-06-18 2003-09-02 Gerald C. Monagan Air purifier
DE10006575A1 (en) * 2000-02-14 2001-08-16 Gerhard Schroeder Sterilization of a closed chamber comprises feeding a sterilizing fluid into the chamber via a movable sterilizing apartments.
US6656424B1 (en) 2000-02-18 2003-12-02 Uvas, Llc Ultraviolet area sterilizer and method of area sterilization using ultraviolet radiation
US6500387B1 (en) 2000-05-19 2002-12-31 Nukuest, Inc. Air actinism chamber apparatus and method
WO2002048619A1 (en) * 2000-12-15 2002-06-20 Kurt Tillmanns Device for purifying air
US20030138347A1 (en) * 2000-12-21 2003-07-24 Szu-Min Lin Attachable container sterilization system
WO2003082352A3 (en) * 2002-03-27 2004-04-08 Adolf B Weigl Air improver and method for air improvement in spaces
US6887299B2 (en) * 2002-03-27 2005-05-03 Lidia Weigl Air improver and method for air improvement in spaces
WO2003082352A2 (en) * 2002-03-27 2003-10-09 Weigl Adolf B Air improver and method for air improvement in spaces
US6939397B2 (en) 2003-05-08 2005-09-06 Eco-Rx, Inc. System for purifying and removing contaminants from gaseous fluids
US20050000365A1 (en) * 2003-05-08 2005-01-06 Roger Nelsen System for purifying and removing contaminants from gaseous fluids
US20040252134A1 (en) * 2003-06-13 2004-12-16 Ankur Bhatt Designing business content for reporting
US20060263272A1 (en) * 2003-06-16 2006-11-23 Dionisio James L Cartridge device containing uvc for air disinfection. "uvbio-clean"
US7175814B2 (en) 2003-06-16 2007-02-13 Dionisio James L Air disinfecting system and cartridge device containing ultraviolet light
US20050150386A1 (en) * 2004-01-13 2005-07-14 Cheng Ming H. Air treatment device having various selections
US7056372B2 (en) * 2004-01-13 2006-06-06 Ming Hui Cheng Air treatment device having various selections
US20060269455A1 (en) * 2004-12-13 2006-11-30 Hinsilblon Ltd. Apparatus for large-scale dispersion of essential oils
US8067750B2 (en) 2008-01-29 2011-11-29 Deal Jeffery L Area sterilizer and method of disinfection
US20090191100A1 (en) * 2008-01-29 2009-07-30 Deal Jeffery L Area sterilizer and method of disinfection
US8859994B2 (en) 2008-01-29 2014-10-14 Jeffery L. Deal Disinfection device and method
US9308289B2 (en) * 2009-02-05 2016-04-12 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Air purifying luminaire
US20100196214A1 (en) * 2009-02-05 2010-08-05 Eugene Graff Air purifying luminaire
US20110163178A1 (en) * 2010-01-07 2011-07-07 Hinsilblon Laboratories Odor control unit with essential oils tray
US9694094B1 (en) 2010-01-08 2017-07-04 Tricia N. Wedding Ultraviolet plasma-shells
US20110168898A1 (en) * 2010-01-14 2011-07-14 Infection Prevention Technologies Systems and Methods for Emitting Radiant Energy
US8455832B2 (en) 2010-01-14 2013-06-04 Infection Prevention Technologies Systems and methods for emitting radiant energy
US8841634B2 (en) 2010-01-14 2014-09-23 Infection Prevention Technologies Systems and methods for emitting radiant energy
US10064968B2 (en) 2010-01-14 2018-09-04 Skytron, Llc Systems and methods for emitting radiant energy
US11629872B2 (en) 2021-04-12 2023-04-18 NQ Industries, Inc. Single pass kill air purifier system and process of operation
IT202100018020A1 (en) 2021-07-08 2023-01-08 Ri El Co Impianti S R L Environment sanitizer
US11867198B2 (en) * 2021-08-31 2024-01-09 Lg Electronics Inc. Blower

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