Fluid disinfection apparatus

Abstract

A fluid disinfection module ( 10 ) comprises a first housing ( 12 ) and a second housing ( 20 ) arranged in spaced-apart relationship to each other. The first housing ( 12 ) includes tubular support members ( 28 ) and ( 28 a ) extending laterally therefrom for respective slidable mateable engagement with corresponding tubular support members ( 30 ) and ( 30 a ) also laterally extending from second housing ( 20 ), for varying the lateral distance x between the first and second housings ( 12 ) and ( 20 ). A locking device maintains tubular support members ( 28 ) ( 28 a ) and ( 30 ) ( 30 a ) in fixed relationship with respect to each other. First housing ( 12 ), second housing ( 20 ), and corresponding tubular support members ( 28 ) ( 28 a ) and ( 30 ) ( 30 a ) define a framework for supporting one or more ultraviolet radiation sources ( 18 ) and ( 26 ) that are detachably mounted at one end thereof to housings ( 12 ) and ( 20 ), respectively. Each of radiation sources ( 18 ) and ( 26 ) is preferably encased within a quartz sleeve ( 60 ), and communicates with one or more ballasts ( 80 ) disposed within or without their respective housings ( 12 ) ( 20 ) for supplying electricity to the radiation sources ( 18 ) ( 26 ).

1 . An air disinfection module for use in a HVAC duct comprising a first housing and a second housing, said housings being arranged in laterally spaced-apart relationship to each other by one or more adjustable support members, each of said housings comprising (i) at least one ultraviolet radiation source communicating with and projecting from its respective housing towards the opposing housing; and (ii) electric transmission means communicating with said ultraviolet radiation sources and with at least one source of electrical power for supplying electricity to said ultraviolet radiation source.  
     
     
         2 . A fluid disinfection module, comprising 
 (a) a first housing and a second housing;    (b) means defining a support structure for maintaining said housings in adjustable, spaced-apart relationship to each other;    (c) means defining one or more ultraviolet radiation sources communicating with and projecting from each housing towards the other housing; and    (d) electric transmission means communicating with said ultraviolet radiation sources and at least one source of electrical power for powering said ultraviolet radiation sources.    
     
     
         3 . An air disinfection module comprising a first housing and a second housing, said housings being arranged in laterally spaced-apart relationship to each other by one or more laterally-adjustable support members, each of said housings comprising (i) one or more ultraviolet radiation sources communicating with and projecting from its respective housing towards the other housing; and (ii) a source of electrical power for supplying electricity to said ultraviolet radiation sources.  
     
     
         4 . The module according to  claim 2  wherein said fluid comprises air.  
     
     
         5 . The module according to claims  1  or  3  wherein said ultraviolet radiation source is an ultraviolet lamp of a straight tubular construction comprising a lamp base disposed at one end thereof that includes electrical terminal pins mounted thereto.  
     
     
         6 . The module according to claims  1 ,  3  or  4  wherein said ultraviolet radiation source comprises an ultraviolet lamp having two, substantially parallel, tubular segments tubularly connected about one end thereof and terminating in a lamp base that is common to the two tubular segments, the lamp base being provided with electrical terminal pins mounted thereto.  
     
     
         7 . The module according to  claim 6  additionally comprising an electrical receptacle mounted to its respective housing for receiving therein the terminal pins of said lamp base.  
     
     
         8 . The module according to  claim 5  wherein said module additionally comprises a radiation pervious protective sleeve disposed about each ultraviolet lamp.  
     
     
         9 . The module according to  claim 8  wherein said radiation pervious protective sleeve is constructed of fused quartz.  
     
     
         10 . The module according to  claim 8  wherein said support member comprises one or more elongate support structures projecting from each housing, the elongate support structure of each housing being slidably engaged with the other for varying the lateral distance between said first and second housings.  
     
     
         11 . The module according to  claim 10  wherein one end of the elongate support structure is disposed about each end of each of said housings.  
     
     
         12 . The module according to  claim 11  wherein each elongate support structure is of a tubular construction.  
     
     
         13 . The module according to  claim 12  wherein the tubular support structure of said first housing is slidably engaged and mated with the tubular support structure of said second housing, the tubular support structures of said first and second housings being detachably secured to each other by a locking device.  
     
     
         14 . The module according to  claim 13  wherein the locking device comprises a compression fitting disposed about each respective tubular support structure of the first and second housings.  
     
     
         15 . The module according to  claim 13  additionally comprising at least one cross support structure mounted to the tubular support structures of said first or second housings, said cross support structure being disposed between and substantially parallel to said housings for supporting said radiation pervious protective sleeves and corresponding ultraviolet lamps within said module.  
     
     
         16 . The module according to  claim 15  wherein said cross support structure is secured to each of said tubular support structures and protective sleeves by a locking device.  
     
     
         17 . The module according to  claim 16  wherein said locking device is a compression fitting.  
     
     
         18 . The module according to  claim 11  wherein said elongate support structure comprises an elongate channel member.  
     
     
         19 . The module according to  claim 18  wherein the elongate channel members of said first and second housings are detachably secured to each other.  
     
     
         20 . The module according to  claim 7  wherein the electrical receptacle is connected to at least one ballast for supplying electricity to said lamp.  
     
     
         21 . The module according to  claim 20  wherein each housing comprises a plurality of ultraviolet lamps.  
     
     
         22 . The module according to  claim 21  wherein each housing comprises a plurality of ballasts for supplying electricity to said ultraviolet lamps.  
     
     
         23 . An air disinfection module comprising a first housing and a second housing, said housings being arranged in laterally spaced-apart relationship to each other, each housing comprising at least one elongate support structure extending laterally therefrom for slidable engagement with the corresponding elongate support structure of the other housing for varying the distance between said first and second housings, said first housing, second housing and corresponding elongate support structures defining a framework for supporting a plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources detachably mounted to each of said housings, said ultraviolet radiation sources (i) projecting laterally from their corresponding housing towards the other housing; and (ii) communicating with one or ballasts disposed within or without their respective housing.  
     
     
         24 . The module according to  claim 23  wherein each of said ultraviolet radiation sources is an ultraviolet lamp of a straight tubular construction comprising a lamp base disposed at one end thereof that includes electrical terminal pins mounted thereto.  
     
     
         25 . The module according to  claim 24  wherein said module additionally comprises a radiation pervious protective sleeve disposed about each ultraviolet lamp.  
     
     
         26 . The module according to  claim 25  wherein said radiation pervious protective sleeve is constructed of fused quartz.  
     
     
         27 . The module according to claims  1 ,  3 ,  4  or  23  wherein said radiation source comprises an ultraviolet lamp having two, substantially parallel, tubular segments tubularly connected about one end thereof and terminating in a lamp base that is common to the two tubular segments, the lamp base being provided with electrical terminal pins mounted thereto.  
     
     
         28 . The module according to  claim 27  additionally comprising an electrical receptacle mounted to its respective housing for receiving therein the terminal pins of said lamp base.  
     
     
         29 . An array comprising a first module and a second module, said modules being defined by claims  1 ,  3 ,  4  or  23 , wherein the first module is arranged laterally of the second module.  
     
     
         30 . The array according to  claim 29  wherein the second housing of said first module is adjacent and secured to the first housing of said second module.  
     
     
         31 . The array according to  claim 30  wherein the second housing of said first module and the first housing of said second module are common to each other.  
     
     
         32 . An array comprising a plurality of modules, said modules being defined by claims  1 ,  3 ,  4  or  23 , and wherein said modules are arranged laterally with respect to each other.  
     
     
         33 . An array comprising a plurality of modules as defined by  claim 25 , said modules being arranged laterally adjacent to each other and wherein the first and second housings of the adjacent modules are common to each other.  
     
     
         34 . The array according to  claim 29  wherein the first module overlies the second module.  
     
     
         35 . The array according to  claim 34  wherein the first housing of said first module overlies the second housing of said second module.