Fluid sterilization apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020002191-A1
Application number	US-201916567409-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 11, 2019
Priority date	Jun 6, 2017
Publication date	Jan 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fluid sterilization apparatus includes: a flow passage tube in which a processing passage where a passing fluid is sterilized is formed; a first light source that irradiates the processing passage with ultraviolet light; an inflow passage formed in a direction that intersects an outer circumferential surface of the flow passage tube; and a communication passage that causes the inflow passage to communicate with the processing passage. The communication passage has a narrow passage in the middle of a path from the inflow passage toward an opening of a first end, the narrow passage being narrower than a passage toward the inflow passage.

First claim

1 . A fluid sterilization apparatus comprising:
a flow passage tube in which a processing passage where a passing fluid is sterilized is formed; a light source that irradiates the processing passage with ultraviolet light; an inflow passage or an outflow passage formed in a direction that intersects an outer circumferential surface of the flow passage tube; and a communication passage that causes the inflow passage or the outflow passage to communicate with the processing passage, wherein the communication passage has a narrow passage in the middle of a path from the inflow passage or the outflow passage toward an opening of one end of the flow passage tube, the narrow passage being narrower than a passage toward the inflow passage or the outflow passage.

2 . The fluid sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the communication passage is formed between the flow passage tube and a housing that covers an opening of the one end of the flow passage tube and the outer circumferential surface near the opening.

3 . The fluid sterilization apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
a convex part is formed more toward the opening than a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the flow passage tube facing the inflow passage or the outflow passage, and the narrow passage is formed between the convex part and an inner circumferential surface of the housing.

4 . The fluid sterilization apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the convex part is formed annularly in a circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface of the flow passage tube.

5 . The fluid sterilization apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the housing is configured such that a convex part is formed more toward opening than an area on an inner circumferential surface of the housing where the inflow passage or the outflow passage is formed, and a narrow passage is formed between the convex part and the outer circumferential surface of the flow passage tube.

6 . The fluid sterilization apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the convex part is formed annularly in a circumferential direction of the inner circumferential surface of the housing.

7 . The fluid sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the flow passage tube is configured such that a concave part is formed in a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the flow passage tube facing the inflow passage or the outflow passage.

8 . The fluid sterilization apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
the concave part is formed annularly in a circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface of the flow passage tube.

9 . The fluid sterilization apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
the narrow passage is provided more toward an opening of the flow passage tube than the concave part.

10 . The fluid sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the communication passage has a U-shaped passage that connects a flow of the fluid in a first direction along the outer circumferential surface of the flow passage tube with a flow of the fluid in a second direction opposite to the first direction along the processing passage.

11 . The fluid sterilization apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an outflow tube or an inflow tube that forms the outflow passage or the inflow passage, wherein the outflow tube or the inflow tube is mounted on an opening formed on an outer circumferential surface of the housing and is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the housing around a center of the opening.

12 . The fluid sterilization apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the housing is mounted on one end of the flow passage tube such that the housing is rotatable around a center of an opening of the flow passage tube.

13 . A fluid sterilization apparatus comprising:
a flow passage tube in which a processing passage where a passing fluid is sterilized is formed; a light source that irradiates the processing passage with ultraviolet light; an inflow passage or an outflow passage formed in a direction that intersects an outer circumferential surface of the flow passage tube; and a regulatory passage provided in an area facing an exit of the inflow passage or an entrance of the outflow passage and configured to change a flow of the fluid in a predetermined direction, wherein the regulatory passage has a curved passage leading from the exit of the inflow passage or the entrance of the outflow passage toward an end of the flow passage tube, and the regulatory passage has a narrow passage in the middle of a path from the inflow passage or the outflow passage toward one end of the flow passage tube, the narrow passage being narrower than a passage toward the inflow passage or the outflow passage.

Assignees

• Nikkiso Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mochizuki Hiroaki

Classifications

• C02F2201/3227

  Units with two or more lamps · CPC title

• C02F2201/3222

  Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• C02F2303/04

  Disinfection · CPC title

• C02F2201/328

  Having flow diverters (baffles) · CPC title

• C02F2301/02

  Fluid flow conditions · CPC title