Apparatuses and Methods for Reducing Ozone Creation from Ultraviolet (UV) Light

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018079528-A1
Application number	US-201615271349-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 21, 2016
Priority date	Sep 21, 2016
Publication date	Mar 22, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods are described for use of an ultraviolet (UV) light source, such as in a cleaning device, in which ozone creation due to reaction of the UV light with oxygen in the air is reduced. An example method includes dispersing, by a gas outlet, oxygen-depleted gas over a UV light source, and directing UV light from the UV light source to pass through the oxygen-depleted gas onto an area. An example apparatus includes a UV light source to direct UV light onto an area, and a gas outlet to disperse oxygen-depleted gas over the UV light source, such that the UV light passes through the oxygen-depleted gas onto the area.

First claim

1 . A method comprising:
dispersing, by a gas outlet, oxygen-depleted gas over an ultraviolet (UV) light source; and directing UV light from the UV light source to pass through the oxygen-depleted gas onto an area.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the UV light source comprises dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas parallel to a light beam of the UV light.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the UV light source comprises dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas perpendicular to a light beam of the UV light.

4 . The method of claim 1 :
wherein dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the UV light source comprises dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas toward the UV light source; and wherein directing the UV light from the UV light source to pass through the oxygen-depleted gas comprises directing the UV light toward the gas outlet.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the oxygen-depleted gas comprises an inert gas.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the UV light source comprises:
dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the area to create a gas cloud; and subsequently operating the UV light source to direct the UV light onto the area.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the UV light source for a predetermined time period prior to operation of the UV light source to direct the UV light onto the area.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
capturing, by a gas inlet, dispersed oxygen-depleted gas into a container.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gas outlet and the UV light source are positioned in a lavatory on an aircraft, and wherein the method further comprises:
operating the UV light source to emit the UV light onto the area when the lavatory is not in use; and dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the area so as to displace air that is in a path of the UV light while the UV light source is emitting the UV light.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displacing air over the area to mitigate formation of ozone gas due to the UV light reacting with oxygen in the air.

11 . A method comprising:
dispersing, by a gas outlet, an inert gas over an ultraviolet (UV) light source for a predetermined time period prior to operation of the UV light source; and after the predetermined time period, operating the UV light source to direct UV light to pass through the inert gas onto an area.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the gas outlet and the UV light source are positioned in a lavatory on an aircraft, and wherein the method further comprises:
operating the UV light source to emit the UV light onto the area when the lavatory is not in use; and dispersing the inert gas over the area so as to displace air that is in a path of the UV light while the UV light source is emitting the UV light.

13 . An apparatus, comprising:
an ultraviolet (UV) light source to direct UV light onto an area; and a gas outlet to disperse oxygen-depleted gas over the UV light source, such that the UV light passes through the oxygen-depleted gas onto the area.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the gas outlet disperses the oxygen-depleted gas over the area so as to displace air that is in a path of the UV light while the UV light source is emitting the UV light.

15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the UV light source comprises one or more of an excimer lamp, a light emitting diode (LED), or a laser.

16 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the UV light source generates the UV light having wavelengths between about 100 nm to about 380 nm.

17 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the gas outlet disperses the oxygen-depleted gas over the area for a predetermined time period prior to operation of the UV light source to direct the UV light onto the area.

18 . The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
a gas inlet to capture dispersed oxygen-depleted gas into a container.

19 . The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
a robotic arm on which the gas outlet and the UV light source are mounted to position the UV light source and the gas outlet over the area.

20 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the gas outlet and the UV light source are positioned in a lavatory on an aircraft, and wherein:
the UV light source operates to emit the UV light when the lavatory is not in use; and the gas outlet disperses the oxygen-depleted gas over the area so as to displace air that is in a path of the UV light while the UV light source is emitting the UV light.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Siegmeth Jeff
• Hills Karen
• Childress Jamie
• Brown Douglas

Classifications

• A61L2103/75

  Room floors or walls · CPC title

• A61L2/10 Primary

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title

• A61L2202/11

  Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps · CPC title

• A61L2202/25

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61L2/26

  Accessories · CPC title