IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0619520
(2000-07-19)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
26 인용 특허 :
52 |
초록
▼
An apparatus for sterilizing or disinfecting fluids, which comprises a fluid conduit, an ultraviolet light source, which is at least partially within the fluid conduit, and an air drive unit coupled to the fluid conduit. The ultraviolet light source generates an ultraviolet light, which kills microo
An apparatus for sterilizing or disinfecting fluids, which comprises a fluid conduit, an ultraviolet light source, which is at least partially within the fluid conduit, and an air drive unit coupled to the fluid conduit. The ultraviolet light source generates an ultraviolet light, which kills microorganisms in the fluid, thus sterilizing or disinfecting the fluid. The air dive unit creates air bubbles in the fluid, such as for fish tanks, fish hatchery ponds, or the like. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the ultraviolet light source comprises an ultraviolet light bulb being surrounded by a protective sleeve. The protective sleeve preferably comprises a UV transmissive material, which may comprise a fluoropolymer material, such as PTFE, FEP, PFA, AF and Tefzel ETFE.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for pumping and sterilizing or disinfecting liquid held in a reservoir, comprising: a fluid conduit, which is at least partially submerged in the liquid held in the reservoir; an ultraviolet lamp which is at least partially within the fluid conduit, the ult
The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for pumping and sterilizing or disinfecting liquid held in a reservoir, comprising: a fluid conduit, which is at least partially submerged in the liquid held in the reservoir; an ultraviolet lamp which is at least partially within the fluid conduit, the ultraviolet lamp comprising: a tube holding and in direct contact with a gas and a vaporizable metal, the tube comprising a body portion, at least one end portion, and optionally at least one end cap covering said at least one end portion; at least one electrode positioned within the tube and electrically coupled to a power source, the at least one electrode operable to excite the gas and the vaporizable metal and thereby generate ultraviolet light; and an ultraviolet-transmissive protective coating comprising a fluoropolymer, a silicon polymer, or a silicone material surrounding and in touching proximity with at least the body portion of the tube; and an air drive unit coupled to the fluid conduit and adapted to cause a liquid to flow through the fluid conduit and past the portion of the ultraviolet lamp in the fluid conduit, wherein the ultraviolet lamp generates an ultraviolet light which kills microorganisms in the liquid and said fluid conduit, and wherein the ultraviolet lamp is disposed within the fluid conduit such that when in use, the protective coating is in direct contact with the liquid within the fluid conduit. 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the protective coating surrounds and is in touching proximity with the body portion and at least a portion of the at least one end portion. 3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the protective coating is a fluoropolymer coating. 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the body portion is formed of a fluoropolymer material. 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said fluoropolymer coating is selected from the group consisting of PTFE, FEP, PFA, AF, and ETFE. 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises a quartz or glass material. 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the protective coating comprises a silicon polymer or silicone material. 8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the protective coating is selected from the group consisting of a shrink wrapped coating, a form pressed coating, a sprayed coating, and a dipped coating. 9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the power source is a solar power source connected to the ultraviolet lamp, and wherein the protective coating surrounds the solar power source and the ultraviolet lamp and seals the solar power source with the ultraviolet lamp. 10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the protective coating forms a seal around the tube. 11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one end cap comprises a fluoropolymer end cap. 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one end cap comprises a silicone end cap. 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a silicone sealer seals the at least one end cap to the protective coating. 14. A method of pumping and sterilizing or disinfecting a liquid held in a reservoir, comprising the steps of: positioning a fluid conduit at least partially submerged in the liquid held in the reservoir; placing an ultraviolet lamp at least partially within the fluid conduit, the ultraviolet lamp comprising: a tube holding and in direct contact with a gas and a vaporizable metal, the tube comprising a body portion, at least one end portion, and optionally at least one end cap covering said at least one end portion; at least one electrode positioned within the tube and electrically coupled to a power source, the at least one electrode operable to excite the gas and the vaporizable metal, thereby generating ultraviolet light; and an ultraviolet-transmissive protective coating comprising a fluoropolymer, a silicon polymer, or a silicone material surrounding and in touching proximity with at least the body portion of the tube; pumping air into the fluid conduit to pump liquid through the fluid conduit and past at least a portion of the ultraviolet lamp; such that the liquid within the fluid conduit is in direct contact with the protective coating; and illuminating the ultraviolet lamp by exciting the gas and vaporizable metal within the tube so that the ultraviolet light is generated, killing microorganisms in the liquid and the fluid conduit. 15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the protective coating is a fluoropolymer coating. 16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said fluoropolymer coating is selected from the group consisting of PTFE, FEP, PFA, AF, and ETFE. 17. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the body portion is formed of a fluoropolymer material. 18. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the body portion comprises a quartz or glass material. 19. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the protective coating comprises a silicon polymer or silicone material. 20. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the protective coating is applied to at least the body portion of the casing by a process selected from the group consisting of heat shrinking the protective coating onto at least the body portion of the tube, form pressing the protective coating onto at least the body portion of the tube, spraying the protective coating onto at least the body portion of the tube, and dipping at least the body portion of the tube into a liquid material. 21. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the power source is a solar power source connected to the ultraviolet lamp, and wherein the protective coating surrounds the solar power source and the ultraviolet lamp and seals the solar power source with the ultraviolet lamp. 22. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the protective coating forms a seal around the tube. 23. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the at least one end cap comprises a fluoropolymer end cap. 24. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the at least one end cap comprises a silicone end cap. 25. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the at least one end cap is sealed to the protective coating using a silicone sealer.
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