Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING APPLIANCE
EXHAUST AND REMOVING CONTAMINANTS FROM OBJECTS
1 CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
2 This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. Patent
Application
3 Serial No. 09/186,990, entitled "Method And Apparatus For Producing Purified
Or
4 Ozone Enriched Air To Remove Contaminants From Fluids", filed November 5,
1998,
which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
09/156,422, entitled
6 "Method and Apparatus for Producing Purified or Ozone Enriched Air", filed
September
7 18, 1998, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial
No.
8 08/932,101, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Removing Contaminants from a
9 Contaminated Air Stream", filed on September 17, 1997. In addition, this
application
claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No.
60/066,500, entitled
11 "Method and Apparatus for Purifying Appliance Exhaust and Removing
Contaminants
12 from Objects", filed on November 24, 1997, and from U.S. Provisional Patent
13 Application Serial No. 60/094,574, entitled "Method and Apparatus for
Producing
14 Purified or Ozone Enriched Air to Remove Contaminants from Objects", filed
on July 29,
1998. The disclosures in the above-referenced patent applications are
incorporated herein
16 by reference in their entireties.
17 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
18 1. Technical Field
19 The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for purifying an
air
stream within an appliance prior to that air stream returning to a surrounding
21 environment. Further, the present invention pertains to a method and
apparatus for
22 removing contaminants from objects. In particular, the present invention
pertains to a
23 method and apparatus for exposing a contaminated air stream within an
appliance,
24 preferably a vacuum cleaner, to ozone and germicidal radiation to remove
contaminants
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1 from that air stream and return sterilized air to a surrounding environment.
Moreover,
2 the present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for producing ozone
enriched air
3 to remove contaminants from objects, such as food, hands, etc.
4 2. Discussion of Related Art
Currently, there are numerous devices known as deodorizing machines utilizing
6 ozone and/or ultraviolet (UV) radiation to sanitize and deodorize air in a
treated space
7 (i.e., typically a room). Generally, these devices generate large amounts of
ozone gas to
8 attain the ozone concentration level necessary to facilitate deodorizing and
sterilizing the
9 air. Since ozone concentration levels required for sterilization are
sufficiently high to be
dangerous to people and/or animals, the use of these devices is typically
limited to odors
I 1 whose removal is difficult (e.g., smoke from fires, organic material
spilled on clothing,
12 etc.). Further, when the devices are used in the proximity of people and/or
animals,
13 health authorities require that ozone concentrations be reduced to safe
levels. However,
14 these reduced or "safe" levels tend to be too low to effectively deodorize
and clean the
air. Moreover, such devices typically use the germicidal qualities of the
ultraviolet
16 radiation to destroy bacteria in the air, but generally either expose the
treated space to
17 high levels of radiation, thereby posing health risks to people and/or
animals, such as eye
18 trauma and skin lesions, or use very low levels of radiation requiring long
exposure
19 times.
The prior art attempts to obviate the aforementioned problems by exposing air
21 from the treated space to ozone or UV radiation internally of a device to
thereby shield
22 against the above-mentioned harmful effects. For example, Burt (U.S. Patent
No.
23 3,486,308) discloses an air treatment device having a UV radiation source
to sterilize air
24 and a plurality of baffles disposed within the interior of the device
housing. The baffles
increase an air flow path within the device beyond the dimensions of the
device housing
26 to expose the air to radiation for greater periods of time. The UV source
produces
27 radiation at a particular intensity to avoid production of ozone.
2
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1 Japanese Publication JP 1-224030 discloses an air cleaner including an ozone
2 generating section, an ozone-air mixing section and a filter section. The
filter section
3 may include a pair of filters having an alkaline component and ozone-
purifying material,
4 respectively. Alternatively, the filter section may include a single filter
having both an
alkaline component and ozone-purifying material to clean air. The air cleaner
further
6 includes a winding air flow path for the air stream to traverse during
cleaning.
7 The prior art devices disclosed in the Burt patent and Japanese Publication
suffer
8 from several disadvantages. In particular, the Burt device does not utilize
ozone, thereby
9 typically only removing bacterial contaminants (e.g., germs) within an air
stream and
enabling non-bacterial or other contaminants, such as odor causing
contaminants, to be
11 returned to a surrounding environment. Conversely, the air cleaner
disclosed in the
12 Japanese Publication employs only ozone to clean the air, thereby possibly
destroying
13 onlyn a portion of bacterial contaminants within the air stream, while
returning residual
14 bacterial contaminants to a surrounding environment.
The prior art attempted to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages by
16 employing ozone in combination with UV radiation to remove virtually all
contaminants
17 from an air stream. In particular, Chesney (L1.S. Patent No. 2,150,263)
discloses a
18 system for internally cleaning, sterilizing and conditioning air within the
system. A
19 stream of air is washed and subsequently exposed to UV radiation which
generates ozone
such that the combination of UV radiation and ozone destroys virtually all
bacteria in the
21 air stream. Excess ozone is removed via pumps and utilized for various
purposes.
22 Hirai (U.S. Patent No. 5,015,442) discloses an air sterilizing and
deodorizing
23 system wherein UV radiation generates ozone to oxidize and decompose odor-
causing
24 components in the air. The ozone is then removed by a catalyzer in
conjunction with,
and prior to, germicidal UV radiation where the UV radiation also removes
germs and
26 sterilizes the air.
27 Monagan (U.S. Patent No. 5,601,786) discloses an air purifier including a
housing
28 having an irradiation chamber, an air inlet for directing air into the
irradiation chamber, a
29 radiation source disposed within the irradiation chamber and an air outlet
formed in the
3
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1 housing for discharging air to the environment. The radiation source
preferably emits
2 ozone-producing radiation within one wavelength interval, and germicidal
radiation
3 within another wavelength interval, whereby the emitted radiation serves to
destroy
4 microorganisms and deodorize the air.
LeVay et al (U.S. Patent No. 5,614,151 ) discloses an electrodeless sterilizer
using
6 ultraviolet radiation and/or ozone. The sterilizer includes an energy source
to excite a gas
7 contained within a bulb and produce ultraviolet radiation, preferably
strongest at 253.7
8 nanometers, that may be utilized to sanitize substances. Further, the
radiation may be
9 used to generate ozone that, either alone or in combination with the
radiation, may
sanitize substances. The bulb may be shaped to enable substances (e.g.,
liquid) to pass
11 through the bulb for sterilization, or to enclose and shield objects (e.g.,
small articles)
12 within the bulb from the energy source. Moreover, the bulb may be located
at the end of
13 a waveguide, or radiation may be transmitted from the bulb via an optic
feed to sanitize
14 inaccessible surfaces of substances. In addition, an ozone generator may be
utilized to
apply ozone to an external substance, whereby flexible hosing connected to the
ozone
16 generator includes a nozzle to control discharge of ozone onto a substance.
17 The Chesney, Hirai, Monagan and LeVay et al systems suffer from several
18 disadvantages. Specifically, the Chesney and LeVay et al systems typically
utilize a
19 single wavelength of UV radiation (e.g., approximately 254 nanometers)
which may not
be optimal for both generating ozone and destroying bacteria. In fact, this
wavelength is
21 generally utilized for its germicidal effects and tends to destroy ozone,
thereby degrading
22 the effect of ozone within the air stream. Although the Monagan system
utilizes a
23 radiation source emitting ozone-producing and germicidal radiation, an air
stream is
24 exposed to each type of radiation simultaneously, thereby enabling the
germicidal
radiation to destroy produced ozone and degrade the effect of ozone within the
air stream.
26 Further, the Chesney system includes a relatively lengthy compartment for
treating air,
27 thereby increasing the size and cost of the system. The Hirai system
typically utilizes
28 independent radiation sources to generate ozone and germicidal radiation,
thereby
29 increasing system cost and complexity. Moreover, the Hirai system does not
provide a
4
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1 safety feature where the ozone generating source may be operable when the
germicidal or
2 ozone removing source becomes inoperable, thereby leading to emissions of
dangerous
3 ozone concentrations from the system. In addition, the Hirai system employs
a relatively
4 short, narrow area for ozone generation, while the Monagan system includes a
radiation
source having adjacent portions emitting ozone generating and germicidal
radiation, and
6 a substantially linear path disposed within an irradiation chamber for an
air stream to
7 traverse the radiation source. Thus, the effects of ozone within an air
stream in the Hirai
8 and Monagan systems are degraded since there is generally a minimal amount
of time
9 and/or space for the ozone to interact with the air prior to exposure to
germicidal
radiation.
11 Although the LeVay et al system may sanitize substances via ozone and
12 ultraviolet radiation, the ozone is typically generated by a single
wavelength of radiation
13 (e.g., approximately 254 nanometers) that tends to destroy ozone as
described above,
14 thereby minimizing the effects of ozone on the substance. Further, the
LeVay et al
1 S system sanitizes a liquid substance by introducing ozone into the liquid
subsequent to
16 exposure of that liquid to germicidal radiation, thereby enabling the
liquid to contain
17 ozone concentration levels sufficient to cause possible harm to people
and/or animals that
18 contact the treated liquid. The LeVay et al patent further discloses
systems for applying
19 ultraviolet radiation or ozone to surfaces of substances external of those
systems. The
radiation may be applied to the external substance via a light pipe or optic
feed, while
21 ozone may be applied via a nozzle disposed at an end of flexible hosing
attached to an
22 ozone generator. However, these devices may not fully expose the substance
surfaces to
23 the ultraviolet radiation or ozone, thereby incompletely sanitizing the
substance.
24 Moreover, the ultraviolet radiation or ozone is applied to the substance
surfaces typically
without preventive or containment measures, thereby enabling radiation and
ozone to be
26 released to the surrounding environment and cause possible harm to people
and/or
27 animals in the vicinity of the substance as described above.
28 OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
5
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1 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to expose air streams
within
2 appliances to ozone and germicidal radiation to remove contaminants from
those air
3 streams and return purified air to a surrounding environment.
4 It is another object of the present invention to maintain ozone
concentration levels
at low or "safe" levels in a contaminant removal system by utilizing a single
radiation
6 source within the system to emit ozone generating and germicidal radiation
of different
7 wavelengths from different sections of the source to generate ozone within
and to
8 perform germicidal functions on an air stream residing in the system. The
entire single
9 radiation source can become disabled only as a unit, thereby preventing
generation of
ozone when the germicidal radiation or ozone-removing section is inoperable.
11 Yet another object of the present invention is to utilize ozone, either
alone or in
12 combination with germicidal radiation, to remove contaminants from objects
(e.g., food
13 items, hands, etc.).
14 The aforesaid objects are achieved individually and in combination, and it
is not
intended that the present invention be construed as requiring two or more of
the objects
16 to be combined unless expressly required by the claims attached hereto.
17 According to the present invention, a method and apparatus for purifying
18 appliance exhaust is accomplished by an air purification system in which
air is drawn in
19 as a stream into the system housing and flows through an ozone generating
chamber. An
ozone generating ultraviolet (UV) radiation source disposed within the ozone
chamber
21 emits ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength of approximately 185
nanometers to
22 irradiate the air and generate ozone which oxidizes contaminants (e.g.,
bacteria, virus,
23 odor-causing element, etc.) residing in the air stream. The ozone chamber
is typically
24 configured to include winding or other types of air flow paths, or to
induce a vortical air
flow, to reduce air through-flow velocity and maintain the air stream within
the ozone
26 chamber for a residence time sufficient for the ozone to interact with the
air. Subsequent
27 to traversing the ozone chamber, the air stream enters a germicidal chamber
disposed
28 adjacent the ozone chamber. The germicidal chamber may also be configured
to have
29 winding or other types of air flow paths, and includes a germicidal UV
radiation source.
6
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1 The germicidal UV radiation source irradiates the air stream and destroys
bacteria and
2 breaks down ozone residing therein. The germicidal UV radiation source
generates
3 radiation having a wavelength of approximately 254 nanometers to destroy
bacteria,
4 viruses, mold spores and ozone remaining after the interaction of air and
ozone in the
ozone chamber. The radiation source typically includes a single combination UV
6 radiation emitting bulb with different sections of the bulb emitting
radiation of different
7 respective wavelengths (e.g., 185 and 254 nanometers). The different
sections of the
8 bulb are disposed in the corresponding ozone and germicidal chambers.
Alternatively,
9 the radiation source may be implemented by separate independent bulbs
emitting
radiation having wavelengths of approximately 185 or 254 nanometers depending
upon
11 the chamber in which the bulb is disposed.
12 The resulting sterilized air from the germicidal chamber may pass through a
13 catalytic converter disposed adjacent the germicidal chamber to remove any
remaining
14 ozone by either converking the ozone back to oxygen, or filtering the ozone
from the air
stream. An internal fan disposed adjacent the ozone chamber draws air into the
system
16 and through the chambers. The system is typically disposed in an air flow
path within an
17 appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, to treat the air and return purified
air to a
18 surrounding environment.
19 Further, the system may be configured to remove contaminants from objects,
such
as food. Specifically, the system for removing contaminants from objects is
similar to
21 the air purification system described above, and includes a combination
radiation source
22 to provide ozone generating and germicidal radiation within the respective
ozone and
23 germicidal chambers. The ozone chamber includes a porous receptacle for
supporting an
24 object within the ozone chamber and enabling produced ozone within that
chamber to
interact with and remove contaminants from the object. The ozonated air stream
from the
26 ozone chamber flows through the porous receptacle and into the germicidal
chamber,
27 wherein the air stream is exposed to germicidal radiation to remove
residual
28 contaminants and ozone therefrom. The resulting sterilized air is returned
to the
29 surrounding environment.
7
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1 In addition, the system may be configured to remove contaminants from a
user's
2 hands. In particular, the system for removing contaminants from a user's
hands is similar
3 to the air purification system described above, except that the system
includes a single
4 treatment chamber having independent ozone generating and germicidal
radiation
sources. The hands are inserted into the treatment chamber, whereby each
radiation
6 source is enabled for a predetermined time interval. The ozone generating
radiation
7 source initially generates ozone within the treatment chamber to remove
contaminants
8 from the user's hands, while the germicidal radiation source is subsequently
enabled to
9 expose those hands to germicidal radiation to remove residual contaminants
and ozone
therefrom.
11 The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present
12 invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed
description
13 of specific embodiments thereof, particularly when taken in conjunction
with the
14 accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals in the various
figures are
utilized to designate like components.
16 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
17 Fig. 1 is a view in elevation and partial section of a portion of an
exemplary
18 system of the type employed by the present invention to produce purified or
ozone
19 enriched air.
Fig. 2 is a view in elevation and partial section of a system utilizing ozone
21 enriched air to remove contaminants from various objects according to the
present
22 invention.
23 Fig. 3 is an exploded view in perspective and partial section of a system
utilizing
24 ozone and germicidal radiation to remove contaminants from a user's hands
according to
the present invention.
26 Fig. 4 is a side view in elevation and partial section of the system of
Fig. 3.
8
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1 Fig. 5 is a side view in elevation and partial section of an upright vacuum
cleaner
2 having a system to purify an air stream within the vacuum cleaner prior to
that air stream
3 retaining to a surrounding environment according to the present invention.
4 Fig. 6 is a side view in elevation of an alternative type of vacuum cleaner
having a
system to purify an air stream within the vacuum cleaner prior to that air
stream returning
6 to a surrounding environment according to the present invention. '
7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
8 An exemplary system of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patent
9 applications for removing contaminants from a contaminated air stream to
produce
purified and/or ozone enriched air is illustrated in Fig. 1. Specifically, the
system
11 includes a housing 5, ozone and germicidal chambers 8, 16, an ultraviolet
(UV) radiation
12 source 36, typically implemented by a combination ultraviolet radiation
emitting bulb
13 and disposed toward the approximate center of the ozone and germicidal
chambers, a
14 ballast (not shown), preferably conventional, for supplying current to
radiation source 3b,
and an internal fan {not shown) for drawing air through the system. The
radiation source
16 may be implemented by a single bulb having an ozone section 12 and
germicidal section
17 14 emitting radiation at different wavelengths (e.g., 185 and 254
nanometers) from the
18 ozone and germicidal sections as disclosed in the above-referenced patent
applications.
19 Alternatively, the radiation source may be implemented by independent bulbs
disposed in
the respective ozone and germicidal chambers, whereby the bulb disposed in the
ozone
21 chamber emits ozone generating radiation (e.g., having a wavelength of
approximately
22 185 nanometers), while the bulb disposed in the germicidal chamber emits
germicidal
23 radiation (e.g., having a wavelength of approximately 254 nanometers).
24 Air from a surrounding environment is drawn into the system through an air
intake (not shown) via the internal fan (not shown) and is directed by the
internal fan and
26 the housing internal structure to flow into ozone chamber 8, typically
disposed above and
27 adjacent the internal fan and air intake. Ozone chamber 8 includes ozone
section 12 of
28 radiation source 36 and a tortuous or serpentine path 10 that serves to
decrease air
9
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1 through-flow velocity (i.e., the path increases residence time of an air
stream within the
2 ozone chamber, thereby decreasing velocity of the air stream through the
chamber) and
3 enhance ozone distribution within the air stream in substantially the same
manner
4 described in the above-referenced patent applications. Path 10 receives an
air stream
entering ozone chamber 8 from the approximate bottom center of the ozone
chamber
6 proximate ozone section 12, and transversely directs the air stream away
from ozone
7 section 12 toward the system housing through successive passageways that
alternate the
8 direction of air stream flow within the ozone chamber. It is to be
understood that the
9 terms "top", "bottom", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "back", "side",
"horizontal",
"vertical" and "length" are used herein merely to facilitate descriptions of
points of
11 reference and do not limit the present invention to any specific
configuration or
12 orientation. Ozone section 12 emits ozone generating radiation to produce
ozone within
13 the air stream, while path 10 reduces air through-flow velocity and enables
the produced
14 ozone to mix and interact with the air stream to oxidize contaminants. Once
the air
stream traverses path 10, the air stream exits the ozone chamber and enters
germicidal
16 chamber 16. Germicidal chamber 16 includes germicidal section 14 of
radiation source
17 36 that emits germicidal W radiation to destroy contaminants and ozone
within the air
18 stream. The sterilized air from the germicidal chamber is exhausted from
the system to
19 the surrounding environment. The system ozone and germicidal chambers may
each
include various configurations as disclosed in the aforementioned patent
applications.
21 For example, the ozone chamber may include any of the configurations
disclosed in the
22 above-mentioned patent applications to reduce air through-flow velocity and
enhance
23 distribution of ozone within the air stream.
24 Ozone enriched air may be produced and utilized by a system to remove
contaminants from various objects, such as food (e.g., meat, chicken, produce,
etc.),
26 kitchen utensils (e.g., cutting boards, knives, forks, etc.) or other
instruments. These
27 items may contain various microbes, such as E-coli or salmonella, that may
cause illness.
28 An exemplary system for removing contaminants firom food or other objects
is illustrated
29 in Fig. 2. Specifically, system 2 includes a housing 3, ozone and
germicidal chambers 8,
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1 16 as described above, radiation source 36, preferably having ozone section
12 and
2 germicidal section 14 as described above, a chamber divider 11 and a
receptacle 15.
3 Housing 3 typically includes top and bottom walls 60, 62, front and rear
walls (not
4 shown), and side walls 64, 66 that are each substantially rectangular and
collectively
define the system interior. Divider 11 is substantially similar to the housing
top and
6 bottom walls, and is disposed toward the approximate centers of the housing
front, rear
7 and side walls. The divider extends across the system interior to separate
and isolate the
8 ozone and germicidal chambers. Radiation source 36 is disposed toward system
side
9 wall 64 and through divider 11 to position ozone section 12 and germicidal
section 14 in
the ozone and germicidal chambers, respectively. Divider 11 includes an
opening 18
11 defined toward the approximate center of the divider to enable an air
stream to flow from
12 ozone chamber 8 into germicidal chamber 16. However, opening 18 may be
defined at
13 any location along the divider. Receptacle 15 is typically constructed of
mesh netting or
14 any other type of porous material to retain food or other objects within
the receptacle,
whereby the porous material is attached to divider 11 toward the periphery of
opening 18
16 to suspend the receptacle within the ozone chamber. The receptacle is
disposed
17 proximate opening 18 such that an air stream from ozone chamber 8 is
directed to flow
18 through the receptacle in order to enter germicidal chamber 16.
19 An air stream from a surrounding environment enters system 2 via slots 17,
typically defined within the bottom portion of system side wall 64 adjacent
radiation
21 source 36. Slots 17 may be of any quantity (e.g., at least one), shape or
size and may be
22 defined and arranged in side wall 64 in any fashion. The air stream may be
drawn into
23 and through the system via an internal fan (not shown) as described above,
while ozone
24 section 12 emits ozone generating radiation within ozone chamber 8 to
generate ozone
within the air stream. Since the air stream is directed to traverse receptacle
15 and
26 opening 18, the air stream velocity through the ozone chamber is reduced,
thereby
27 enabling the generated ozone to mix and interact with the air stream to
remove
28 contaminants from the air stream. When the ozone enriched air flows through
receptacle
29 15 in order to traverse opening 18, the object contained within the
receptacle becomes
11
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1 soaked with the ozone enriched air, thereby enabling the ozone to remove
contaminants
2 from the object. After traversing receptacle 15 and opening 18, the air
stream enters
3 germicidal chamber 16 wherein germicidal section 14 of radiation source 36
exposes the
4 air stream to germicidal radiation to remove contaminants and ozone from the
air stream.
The purified air stream is subsequently returned to the surrounding
environment via slots
6 19, typically defined within top wall 60 or upper portions of side walls 64,
66. Slots 19
7 may be of any quantity (e.g., at least one), shape or size, and may be
defined and
8 arranged in any fashion in the top or side walls, or any combination of
those walls.
9 A further application for purified and/or ozone enriched air is to remove
contaminants from hands, especially hands of employees of restaurants or other
food
11 service establishments. A system for removing contaminants from hands
utilizing ozone
12 and germicidal radiation is illustrated in Figs. 3 - 4. Specifically,
system 20 has a
13 configuration similar to the systems described above and includes a
treatment chamber
14 23 having an ozone generating radiation source 22 and a germicidal
radiation source 62.
The system includes top and bottom walls 70, 72, front and rear walls 74, 76
and side
16 walls 78, 80 that form a box-like housing 3. The walls are each
substantially rectangular
17 and collectively define a system interior. Openings 24 are defined in
housing front wall
18 74 for placement and removal of hands 26 within the system. A person
typically inserts
19 his/her hands through openings 24 into the system treatment chamber for a
short time
interval to enable ozone and germicidal radiation to remove any contaminants
from the
21 hands in substantially the same manner described above. Openings 24
generally include
22 flaps 25 that fonm a seal with hands 26 to enable entry and removal of
hands 26 within
23 treatment chamber 23, while preventing ozone from escaping the system.
24 Radiation sources 22, 62 are generally disposed in the upper portion of the
system
substantially in parallel to each other, and extend between system side walls
78, 80. A
26 fan 27 is disposed near an air intake (not shown) and ozone radiation
source 22 to direct
27 incoming air toward that source to generate ozone. A soaking chamber 21 is
disposed
28 adjacent ozone radiation source 22 to enable generated ozone to mix and
interact with the
29 air. In particular, a divider 82 extends from an intermediate portion of
system top wall 70
12
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1 into the system interior to isolate the ozone generating radiation source
and soaking
2 chamber from the germicidal radiation source. Dividers 84, 86 extend between
housing
3 rear wall 76 and divider 82 to define and isolate the confines of the
soaking chamber.
4 Divider 84 is disposed adjacent radiation source 22, while divider 86
extends from the
terminal portion of divider 82 toward the intermediate portion of rear wall
76. The
6 soaking chamber typically includes a winding or other type of path 10 to
enhance
7 distribution of ozone within the air stream as described above. The path is
formed by a
8 series of interleaved dividers 88, 90 directing the air stream in a
serpentine fashion.
9 Specifically, dividers 88 each extend from divider 82 toward rear wall 76.
The length of
each divider 88 is less than the distance between rear wall 76 and divider 82
to form
11 respective gaps between dividers 88 and the rear wall. Similarly, divider
90 extends from
12 rear wall 76 toward divider 82. The length of divider 90 is less than the
distance between
13 rear wall 76 and divider 82 to form a gap between divider 90 and divider
82. Divider 90
14 is disposed between dividers 88 to form successive passageways collectively
defining
serpentine path 10, whereby the gaps enable air to traverse succeeding
passageways. An
16 opening 92 is defined in divider 84 toward divider 82, while an opening 96
is defined in
17 divider 86 toward rear wall 76. Openings 92, 96 enable the air stream to
traverse path 10
18 and treat hands 26 residing within the treatment chamber. The ozone flows
with the air
19 stream toward hands 26 inserted within the system treatment chamber near
the treatment
chamber floor to oxidize and remove contaminants from the hands in
substantially the
21 same manner described above. Subsequently, hands 26 are exposed to
germicidal
22 radiation from germicidal radiation source 62 for a short time interval to
remove bacteria
23 and ozone from the hands in substantially the same manner described above.
24 The system may include a microprocessor or other control circuitry to
initiate
power to fan 27 and ozone radiation source 22 for a predetermined time
interval to enable
26 generation of ozone and oxidation of contaminants as described above. Upon
expiration
27 of the predetermined interval, power is disabled to fan 27 and ozone
radiation source 22
28 to prevent ozone generation. The ozone concentration may thus be controlled
based on
29 the length of this interval. Germicidal radiation source 62 is initiated
subsequent to
13
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1 expiration of the ozone generation interval to expose hands 26 to germicidal
radiation to
2 remove bacteria and ozone from the hands as described above. The germicidal
radiation
3 source is similarly activated for a predetermined time interval, and then
disabled to
4 permit removal of hands 26 from the system. An alarm or other indicator may
be
disposed on the system to indicate completion of the treatment. The ozone
generation
6 and germicidal intervals and other parameters may be programmed into the
system via a
7 control panel (not shown).
8 The systems described above may be adapted to be of any size or shape and
9 include D.C. ballasts for powering the radiation sources in order to be
transportable
and/or utilized in various vehicles (e.g., cars, boats, trucks, buses, trains
etc.) or other
11 areas. The D.C. ballasts may receive power from conventional batteries or
cigarette
12 lighters to enable the systems to be utilized at various remote locations.
For example, the
13 food~~ sterilization system may be transportable for removing contaminants
from food at
14 picnics, barbecues or any other indoor or outdoor gatherings, while the
hand system may
similarly be transportable to facilitate cleaning of hands at virtually any
location.
16 The generation of ozone enriched and/or purified air may be utilized for
various
17 other applications. For example, the systems described above and disclosed
in the
18 aforementioned patent applications may be employed within various
appliances, such as
19 vacuum cleaners, to purify air streams within these appliances prior to the
air streams
returning to a surrounding environment as illustrated in Fig. 5. Specifically,
a
21 conventional upright vacuum cleaner 30 generally includes a base or head
38, typically
22 housing a motor (not shown) and a substantially cylindrical brush assembly
39, a handle
23 32 and a bag 34 attached to handle 32 for collecting particles removed from
a carpet or
24 floor by the vacuum cleaner. Bag 34 is typically a hard bag, commonly
utilized with
vacuum cleaners, that includes top, bottom, front, rear and side walls to
collectively
26 define a bag interior, and a collection chamber (not shown) to collect
particles within the
27 bag. The vacuum cleaner motor draws air into head 38 via an inlet 37
disposed toward
28 the front bottom portion of the head. Brush assembly 39 is disposed within
inlet 37 and
29 includes brushes disposed on its exterior surface. The brush assembly
rotates about its
14
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1 longitudinal axis, whereby the brushes direct particles from a carpet or
floor toward an
2 air stream flowing into inlet 37. The air stream carries the particles and
flows from inlet
3 37 through head 38 into bag 34 (e.g., as indicated by the arrows in Fig. S),
whereby the
4 particles carried by the air stream are deposited within the bag collection
chamber (not
shown). The collection chamber typically includes an air porous bag or plastic
container
6 (not shown) that acts similar to a filter to permit an air stream to flow
through the
7 collection chamber, while retaining particles carried by the air stream
within the
8 collection chamber. Subsequent to flowing through the collection chamber,
the air
9 stream traverses slots 35, typically defined in a side wall of bag 34 toward
the bag rear
wall, to return to a surrounding environment.
11 An air purification system SO may be disposed within bag 34 between the
12 collection chamber and slots 35 to purify an air stream prior to the air
stream returning to
13 a surrounding environment. System 50 is typically substantially similar to
the system
14 described above for Fig. l, but may be implemented by any of the systems
described
above or disclosed in the aforementioned patent applications that are capable
of purifying
16 air. System SO receives the air stream via an intake 31 and exposes the air
stream to
17 ozone and germicidal radiation to remove contaminants from the air stream
in
18 substantially the same manner described above. Purified air exits system 50
via an
19 exhaust vent 33, whereby the purified air traverses slots 35 of bag 34 to
return to the
surrounding environment. Thus, upright vacuum cleaner 30 draws an air stream
from the
21 surrounding environment into the vacuum cleaner to collect particles, while
returning
22 purified air back to the surrounding environment.
23 Alternatively, system 50 may be employed by vacuum cleaners of the type
having
24 a separate cleaning unit attached to a base and handle as illustrated in
Fig. 6.
Specifically, a conventional vacuum cleaner 40 generally includes a cleaning
unit 41,
26 typically housing a motor (not shown), and collection unit 47, typically
including a base
27 42 and a handle 44. The vacuum cleaner motor draws an air stream into base
42 via an
28 inlet 46 disposed toward the front bottom portion of the base. Base 42
typically includes
29 a substantially cylindrical brush assembly 48 having brushes disposed on
its exterior
CA 02311386 2000-OS-24
WO 99/26668 PCTNS98/25053
1 surface. The brush assembly is disposed within inlet 46 and rotates about
its longitudinal
2 axis, whereby the brushes direct particles from a carpet or floor toward an
air stream
3 flowing into inlet 46. Handle 44 is attached to base 42 to enable
manipulation of the base
4 over the carpet or floor, and is further connected to cleaning unit 41 via a
hose 45. The
air stream carries the particles and flows from inlet 46 into base 42 and
through handle 44
6 and hose 45 into a collection chamber (not shown) disposed within cleaning
unit 41 (e.g.,
? as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 6), whereby the particles carried by the
air stream are
8 deposited within the collection chamber. The collection chamber typically
includes an
9 air porous bag or plastic container (not shown) that acts similar to a
filter to permit an air
stream to flow through the collection chamber, while retaining particles
carried by the air
11 stream within the collection chamber. Subsequent to flowing through the
collection
12 chamber, the air stream traverses slots 43, defined toward a rear portion
of the cleaning
13 unit housing, to return to a surrounding environment.
14 An air purification system 50, substantially similar to the system
described above
for Fig. 5, may be disposed within cleaning unit 41 between the collection
chamber and
16 slots 43 of cleaning unit 41 to purify an air stream prior to the air
stream returning to a
1? surrounding environment. System 50 receives the air stream via an intake 31
and
18 exposes the air stream to ozone and germicidal radiation to remove
contaminants from
19 the air stream in substantially the same manner described above. Purified
air exits
system 50 via an exhaust vent 33, whereby the purified air traverses slots 43
to return to
21 the surrounding environment as described above. System 50 may be disposed
in any
22 type of vacuum cleaner, including vacuum cleaners having soft bags, at any
location
23 along an air flow path to purify an air stream within the vacuum cleaner.
Further, system
24 50 may be disposed in any appliance at any location along an air flow path
to enable the
appliance to return purified air to a surrounding environment in substantially
the same
26 manner described above.
2? It will be appreciated that the embodiments described above and illustrated
in the
28 drawings represent only a few of the many ways of implementing a method and
29 apparatus for purifying appliance exhaust and removing contaminants from
objects.
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1 The ballasts for the radiation sources of the systems described above may be
2 implemented by any conventional DC (e.g., for portable systems) or AC
ballast or other
3 circuitry to supply current to the radiation sources. The systems described
above may be
4 of any shape or size, may be constructed of any suitable materials, and may
include any
quantity of radiation sources (e.g., at least one) of any shapes or size
disposed in any
6 manner within the systems. The internal fan of the systems described above
may be
7 implemented by any quantity of any conventional or other types of fans or
devices for
8 drawing air through a system, such as a fan, blower or device to create a
differential
9 pressure in a system to cause air flow through that system. The fan or other
devices may
be disposed internal or external of a system in any manner capable of
directing air
11 through that system. Further, the fan or devices may include variable flow
rates to cause
12 air to flow through a system at various rates. For example, larger areas
may require
13 greater flow rates to enable air within these larger areas to be rapidly
and efficiently
14 treated by a system. The components of the systems described above may be
arranged in
any fashion.
16 The system for removing contaminants from objects may be of any shape or
size,
17 and may accommodate various objects. The ozone chamber may include a
portion of the
18 germicidal section of the radiation source to expose the object to
germicidal radiation to
19 enhance removal of contaminants. The slots for receiving and exhausting air
from the
system may be of any quantity (e.g., at least one) shape or size, and may be
defined at
21 any suitable locations in any of the system housing walls. The combination
radiation
22 source may include any proportion of ozone section to germicidal radiation
section, may
23 be configured to emit radiation of any desired wavelengths, and may
alternatively be
24 implemented by independent radiation sources disposed within the ozone and
germicidal
chambers and emitting radiation of any desired wavelengths. Further, the
combination
26 radiation source typically only operates when each section is operable to
prevent ozone
27 generation without germicidal radiation to destroy the ozone. The chamber
divider and
28 ozone and germicidal chambers may be arranged in any fashion within the
system. The
29 receptacle may be formed of any porous material and may be disposed at any
location
17
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1 within the ozone chamber. Moreover, the receptacle may enable the object to
be partially
2 disposed in the germicidal chamber for exposure to germicidal radiation. The
object may
3 alternatively be retained in the ozone and/or germicidal chambers via any
suitable
4 receptacles, containers, securing mechanisms, or in any conventional or
other manners
(e.g., resting on the ozone chamber floor). The ozone chamber may further
include a
6 tortuous path as described above to enable the ozone to mix with the air.
The ozone
7 and/or germicidal chambers may include any quantity of receptacles arranged
in any
8 fashion to expose various quantities of objects to ozone and/or germicidal
radiation. The
9 ozone and germicidal chambers may include any suitable configurations to
treat the air
stream, such as the configurations described above or disclosed in the above-
mentioned
11 patent applications. The system may include any quantity (e.g., at least
one) of ozone and
12 germicidal chambers each having a suitable configuration to treat the
object and/or air.
13 In addition, the system may include a single chamber exposing the object
and air to
14 ozone and germicidal radiation.
The system for removing contaminants from hands may be of any shape or size,
16 may be programmed to treat the hands for any desired time intervals, and
may include
17 any quantity (e.g., at least one) of combination or independent radiation
sources of any
18 shape or size disposed and/or arranged within the system in any fashion.
The
19 combination radiation sources may include any proportion of ozone section
to germicidal
radiation section, while the combination and independent radiation sources may
be
21 configured to emit radiation of any desired wavelengths. The combination
radiation
22 source enables simultaneous application of ozone and germicidal radiation
to the hands
23 for a predetermined time interval, and typically only operates when each
section is
24 operable to prevent ozone generation without germicidal radiation to
destroy the ozone.
The system may further treat objects inserted into the treatment chamber in
substantially
26 the same manner described above. The system may include any quantity of
openings
27 (e.g., at least one) to accommodate any quantity of hands during a
treatment cycle. The
28 openings defined in the system housing may be of any shape or size, and may
be defined
29 at any suitable locations in any of the system housing walls. The openings
may include
18
CA 02311386 2000-OS-24
WO 99126668 PCT/US98I25053
1 any quantity (e.g., at least one) of flaps, or other devices to maintain
ozone and radiation
2 within the system. The soaking, ozone and germicidal chambers may include
any
3 suitable configurations to treat the air stream, such as the configurations
described above
4 or disclosed in the above-mentioned patent applications. Further, the
soaking chamber
path may include any path or other configuration capable of reducing air
through-flow
6 velocity and enabling the ozone to mix and interact with the air. A path of
this type may
7 be similarly disposed in the ozone and germicidal chambers. The system may
include
8 any conventional or other control pad and processor or control circuitry to
control system
9 operation as described above.
The air purification system may be of any size or shape, and may be disposed
at
11 any location within any appliance or other device exhausting an air stream
(e.g., vacuum
12 cleaner, blender, mixer, computer, etc.). The air purification system may
be implemented
13 by any of the systems described above or disclosed in the above-mentioned
patent
14 applications capable of purifying air. The air purification system may
include a catalytic
1 S converter or other filter disposed adjacent the germicidal chamber to
remove residual
16 ozone from the air stream. The system may include any quantity (e.g., at
least one) of
17 ozone and germicidal chambers, whereby each chamber may have any suitable
18 configuration, shape or size to treat air. Further, the system may include
a single
19 chamber exposing the air stream to ozone and germicidal radiation.
Moreover, the
system may utilize any quantity (e.g., at least one) of independent radiation
sources of
21 any shape or size within each chamber, or any quantity (e.g., at least one)
of combination
22 radiation sources of any shape or size having a plurality of sections with
each section
23 disposed in and emitting radiation at an appropriate wavelength for a
corresponding
24 chamber. The combination radiation source may include any proportion of
ozone section
to germicidal radiation section, while the combination and independent
radiation sources
26 may be disposed within the system in any fashion and be configured to emit
radiation of
27 any desired wavelengths. The combination radiation source typically only
operates when
28 each section is operable to prevent ozone generation without germicidal
radiation to
29 destroy the ozone. The air flow path within the system ozone chamber may
include any
19
CA 02311386 2000-OS-24
W~ ~~~8 PCTNS98/25053
1 path or other configuration capable of reducing air through-flow velocity
and enabling
2 the ozone to mix and interact with the air. A path of this type may
similarly be disposed
3 within the germicidal chamber. The system intake and exhaust may be disposed
on the
4 system in any fashion to accommodate a device air flow, while the air flow
may enable
S air to traverse the system without use or inclusion of a system fan.
6 It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the
specific
7 embodiments discussed herein, but may be implemented in any manner that
utilizes
8 ozone generation via a configuration that reduces air through-flow velocity
to enable the
9 ozone to interact with the air (e.g., any path configuration or other
mechanism to reduce
I O air through-flow velocity), and germicidal radiation to remove
contaminants. Further, the
11 present invention is not limited to the specific applications disclosed
herein, but rather,
12 may be utilized for any application employing or producing purified or
ozone enriched
13 air.
14 From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the invention
makes
15 available a novel method and apparatus for purifying appliance exhaust and
removing
16 contaminants from objects wherein air is exposed to UV radiation at a first
wavelength to
17 generate ozone while traversing an ozone chamber configured to reduce air
through-flow
18 velocity and to enhance ozone distribution in the air. The ozone oxidizes
contaminants in
19 an air stream and/or object, whereby the air stream and/or object is
subsequently exposed
20 to UV radiation at a second wavelength to remove bacteria and ozone
therefrom.
21 Having described preferred embodiments of a new and improved method and
22 apparatus for purifying appliance exhaust and removing contaminants from
objects, it is
23 believed that other modifications, variations and changes will be suggested
to those
24 skilled in the art in view of the teachings set forth herein. It is
therefore to be understood
25 that all such variations, modifications and changes are believed to fall
within the scope of
26 the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
